March 16, 2005

World Snowboarding Invitational Announces International Line-up

World's best pros invited to compete for $50,000 in Superpipe and Slopestyle competitions

 

The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival Competition Design Team has announced a star-studded list of invited riders to compete in the World Snowboarding Invitational, April 12-16. The Invitational is a cornerstone of the legendary TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival - Whistler's event of the year - and features a mix of music arts and sports events, April 8-17. Riders make a yearly pilgrimage to the Festival to compete for $50,000 at Canada's biggest pro contest, and to experience the ultimate spring party.

 

"Canadian riders have invited the world to share in their favourite contest of the season.  The World Snowboard Invitational is famous for good times, epic parties and great spring riding," said Lindsay O'Brien, athlete manager, W1. "We are thrilled with the list of invited riders and look forward to showing everyone a great time in Whistler."

 

Riders to watch include: Crispin Lipscomb (1st 2004 World Snowboarding Invitational Superpipe, 1st 2005 Gravity Games Superpipe, Canadian National team member and 2006 Olympic hopeful); Keir Dillon (1st 2005 World Superpipe Championships, 4th 2005 Gravity Games Superpipe, 3rd 2004 X-Games Superpipe); Logan Short (1st 2004 World Snowboarding Invitational Jibzone, 3rd 2004 Urban Rail Session); Leanne Pelosi (1st 2004 World Snowboarding Invitational Jibzone, 1st 2004 Urban Rail Session, 4th Gravity Games Slopestyle); and Hannah Teter (1st 2005 World Superpipe Championships, 2nd Gravity Games Superpipe , 3rd 2005 X-Games Superpipe, 5th 2005 Gravity Games Slopestyle). Snowboard veterans Todd Richards and Tara Dakides round out the solid line-up of invited riders.

 

In lieu of hosting a Superpipe Qualifier, the Competition Design Team chose winners from contests across Canada including the Tour of Champions and Canadian Junior Nationals. Wild card spots are open for one male and one female to compete in the Superpipe Finals. Snowboarders can log onto snowboard.com to vote for their favourite from the following lists: Men- Jared Anderson, Jed Anderson, Rube Goldberg, Stefan Karlsson and Kory Wright. Women- Paulina Ligocka, Jessica Kimura and Amanda Mourant. The polls close on March 19.

 

SLOPESTYLE INVITATION LIST - MEN

#

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

NAT.

SPONSORS

1

BANNOCK

Dennis

CAN

Ripzone, Atomic, Nixon, Technine, Grenade, 32, Etnies, OGIO, Ca$hle$$ Inc.

2

CONNOLLY

Neil

CAN

Elan, Billabong

3

CRAVEN

Dustin

CAN

Oakley, 32, Etnies, Capita, Lifetime

4

FOX

Jesse

CAN

Rome Snowboards, Mission 6, Oakley

5

GILBERT

Etienne

CAN

Nitro, L1, Technine, DLX Shop, OGIO

6

HJELMSTADSTUEN

Roger

NOR

Head, Helly Hansen, Airwalk, Dragon, Dakine

7

MORISSET

Guillaume

CAN

Salomon, Savier

8

PAGE

Mike

CAN

Foursquare, Forum, Drop

9

PEPPERDINE

Jeff

CAN

Endeavor, Westbeach, Vital

10

RENCZ

Mikey

CAN

Burton

11

RICHARDS

Todd

USA

DCSHOECO

12

RITCHIE

Benji

CAN

Rossignol, Billabong, 32, Etnies, Dragon Optical, Dakine, Empire

13

SCHNEIDER

TJ

CAN

Capita Snowboards

14

SHORT

Logan

CAN

NOMIS, Ruins Boardshop, Seymour Kids

15

TARTE

Marc-Andre

CAN

Westbeach

16

VANNINEN

Aleksi

FIN

Elan, 68 Clothing, Spy

17

WILLIAMS

Travis

CAN

Option NFA, Von Zipper, Pow Gloves, Drake, Northwave, Globe, Evolution

The remaining spots in the final will be filled by the top 7 from the Slopestyle Qualifier

 

SLOPESTYLE INVITATION LIST - WOMEN

#

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

NAT.

SPONSORS

1

COMSTOCK

Erin

USA

Sims, Vans, Roxy, Smith, Demon

2

DAKIDES

Tara

USA

Billabong, Vans, Von Zipper, Pro-Tec Helmets, Mammoth Mtn., Campbell's Soup @ Hand

3

MEYEN

Jana

CAN

32, Etnies, Volcom, Velvet

4

O'BRIEN

Spencer

CAN

Burton, Holden, Dragon, Lifetime, Etnies, 133 Boardshop

5

PELOSI

Leanne

CAN

K2, Dragon, GMC, MGT Snowboard Camp, Etnies, Nikita, W/B

6

ROY

Marie-France

CAN

Rome Snowboards, Nikita

7

TETER

Hannah

USA

Burton

8

THOMAS

Emily

AUS

Salomon, Rusty, Dakine, Etnies, Pro Tech

9

YAMADA

Marni

USA

Dynastar, Sessions, Northwave, Drake

10

ZUREK

Natasza

CAN

Burton

The remaining spots in the final will be filled by the top 3 from the Slopestyle Qualifier

 

SUPERPIPE INVITATION LIST - MEN

#

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

NAT.

SPONSORS

1

AUBRY

David

CAN

Ride Snowboards, Oakley, Empire

2

CRAVEN

Dustin

CAN

Oakley, 32, Etnies, Capita, Lifetime

3

DAVIS

Brendan

CAN

Burton, Gravis, Anon

4

DESCHENES

Guy

CAN

The Circle, Scott USA

5

DILLON

Keir

USA

Burton

6

GOTUACO

Mike

CAN

Option NFA, Fathom, Dakine, Spy

7

HARDINGHAM

Andrew

CAN

Drop, Von Zipper, Ride, Etnies, 32, Vestal, Technine, Rudeboys, Club Seals

8

KINGWILL

Rob

USA

 

9

KRATTER

Giacomo

ITA

Nitro, Oakley, Red Bull, Grenada

10

LAMOUREUX

Justin

CAN

Head Snowboards, Reef, CFR Sled Racks, Rude Boys, MGT

11

LEMAY

Hugo

CAN

Flow, Adidas, Canadian National Team, Excledor

12

LIPSCOMB

Crispin

CAN

Elan, Westbeach, Vans, Spy, Pryme Helmets

13

MARTIN

Brad

CAN

Rossignol, McDonald's, KUU, Performance, Vertoy.com, youlookgood.com

14

MELANCON

David

CAN

Jeenyus, HH, Drop, Oakley, Blur Bird, WE, TCH9, W/B, MPR

15

MICHAELS

Jan

GER

Head Snowboards, Oakley Apparel & Eyewear, Ratiopharm, Toyota

16

MICHALCHUK

Mike

CAN

Nike

17

MORISSET

Guillaume

CAN

Salomon, Savier

18

PARKER

Jamie

CAN

 

19

TAHARA

Rio

JPN

Forum

20

TETER

Abe

USA

Palmer

21

TETER

Elijah

USA

Palmer, US Snowboard Team, Bolle, Sierra Tahoe, Swix, Nixon, Globe

22

THOMPSON

Matt

CAN

Academy

23

VITO

Louie

USA

Forum, Volcom, Smith, Kicker, Neff, Grenade, Circa, Windells

24

WYNEN

Luke

USA

Unity Snowboards, Smith, Jays Snowboard Shop, KINeSYS, Jedidah Casual Clothing

25

TBD

 

 

1st 2005 Canadian Junior Nationals HP (March 25, Big White)

26

TBD

 

 

1st 2005 Sprite Series HP (April 3, Whistler)

27

TBD

 

 

Voted for by Snowboard.com members

28

TBD

 

 

1st 2005 Canadian Senior Nationals HP (March 22-27, Big White)

29

TBD

 

 

2nd 2005 Canadian Senior Nationals HP (March 22-27, Big White)

30

TBD

 

 

3rd 2005 Canadian Senior Nationals HP (March 22-27, Big White)

 

SUPERPIPE INVITATION LIST - WOMEN

#

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

NAT.

SPONSORS

1

AGUIRRE

Molly

USA

Burton, Smith, Windells, Spacecraft

2

BLEILER

Gretchen

USA

K2

3

BORSA

Kelsey

CAN

Rossignol, BC Prov. Team, Deviate Boardshop, Oakley, OGIO/ORB

4

BYRNES

Tricia

USA

Cold As Ice, Bolle, Stratton, Kombi, Clif Bar

5

CLARK

Kelly

USA

Burton

6

CONRAD

Sarah

CAN

Ride, Nikita, Nixon, Dakine, Pro Skates

7

GAUTHIER

Anne-Marie

CAN

 

8

GOUGH

Natalie

CAN

Mission 6, Capita, Nikita, Punkasscanucks

9

HIGHT

Elena

USA

Burton, Oakley, Hurley, Shoreline Sports

10

IRONSIDE

Charmaine

CAN

 

11

IRWINN

Calynn

CAN

Burton, Anon, Billabong

12

NICOLL

Mercedes

CAN

K2, 32, Clive, Drake, The Circle, Velvet

13

RICKER

Maelle

CAN

W/B, Gauge Clothing, Showcase

14

TETER

Hannah

USA

Burton

15

TSUYUKI

Katie

CAN

Powder Room, Hustler Board Shop, Scott USA, G&G Electronics

16

VALLEE

Dominique

CAN

Oakley Eyewear & Apparel

17

VIDAL

Doriane

FRA

Rossignol

18

WRIGHT

Koko

CAN

 

19

TBD

 

 

1st 2005 Canadian Jr. Nationals HP (March 25, Big White)

20

TBD

 

 

1st 2005 Canadian Sr. Nationals HP (March 22-27, Big White)

21

TBD

 

 

Voted for by snowboard.com members

 

The World Snowboarding Invitational is presented by Esquire, Snowboard Canada Magazine and Snowboard.com. Qualifier entry lists are posted at www.whistler2005.com/WSBI.

 

The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Whistler's event of the year, is produced by W1 - Whistler's largest sport and entertainment marketing company. Experience the synergy of legendary music, arts, and sports events, featuring the World Snowboarding Invitational, the World Skiing Invitational, the DKNY Jeans Outdoor Concert Series and the Kokanee Freeride Club Concert Series, as well as the Pro Photographer Showdown and Filmmaker Showdown. New additions to the line-up this year include the Smirnoff Experience and Brave Art. For more information, visit www.whistler2005.com.