Telluride, CO, January 29, 2008–A sold-out event within hours of registration opening, the Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open kicks of the competitive big mountain season at Telluride Ski Resort February 7-10, 2008. Charging into its eighteenth year and still gaining steam, the Subaru US Freeskiing Series will launch the ‘08 campaign with ideal snow conditions on Telluride’s legendary terrain.

"Telluride is thrilled to have the Freeskiing event return for the third consecutive year,” said Communications Director Maryhelyn Kirwan. "We look forward to hosting this caliber of world class athletes year after year."

Competitors from around the globe, including Canada, U.S.A., Argentina, Sweden and France will battle it out for the $7,500 cash purse, with the men’s and women’s overall tour point leaders taking home $2,500 each. With approximately 70 men and 30 women competing, the reigning Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open champs, Jane Somerville and Adrien Coirier will have their work cut out for them as they try to maintain their titles. Other contenders include Cliff Bennett, Hannah Whitney, Kevin O’Meara and Telluride local Chasson Russell who finished third in 2007.

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“The Subaru US Freeskiing Series is excited to kick off the season in Telluride,” said MSI Events Director Dak Williams. “Over the past couple of years, MSI and TMR have created a terrific partnership for the Telluride Freeskiing Open, and ‘08 promises to be even better. TMR and the Telluride Professional Ski Patrol have been very proactive in opening new terrain and preparing the competition terrain for 2008 to provide an even better playing field for the competition”.

Nestled at the end of a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, Telluride sits against the most beautiful and mystical setting imaginable. Far removed from the hectic pace of every day life, this charming and authentic town is surrounded by the greatest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in North America.

Palmyra Peak will be the backdrop to competition as skiers explore terrain below the Peak on the ridges of Black Iron Bowl and Prospect Basin. Westlake, the Cowboy Couloir, Genevieve and La Rosa will be the venue for the qualifying rounds, while the ominous Mountain Quail, Dihedral Chute & Dihedral Face will be the venue for the finals. Newly opened to the public this year, due in part by the success of US Freeskiing Events, this World Class extreme terrain is unmatched in North America for steeps and fresh powder.

Once again, MSI will be posting same-day video webcasts on the newly redesigned usfreeskiing.com which features state of the art video and photo player technology. The daily uploads of video, photos, news and results of each day’s competition action will be available after each day concludes.

2008 Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series & Freeskiing World Tour Schedule

• Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open, Telluride CO, February 7-10

• Subaru Squaw Valley Freeskiing Open, Squaw Valley, CA, February 14-17

• Subaru U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte, CO, February 19-23 (World Tour #1)

• Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open, Jackson Hole, WY, March 13-16

• Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals, Snowbird, UT, March 18-23 (World Tour #2)

• Subaru Freeskiing World Championships and Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Finals, Alyeska, AK, April 9-13 (World Tour #3)

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Subaru of America

The North Face

Corona

Nordica

Coca-Cola

Powder Magazine

Emergen-C

Ski Press Magazine

Mt. Olympus water

Lynden Transport

Sports Insurance

Scott USA

Grabber

Skull Candy

Yakima

IFSA

Special thanks to our Resort partners:

Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Telluride Ski Resort

Squaw Valley USA

Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Alyeska Resort

For more information log onto http://www.usfreeskiing.com