INAUGURAL QUIKSILVER NATURAL SELECTION

INAUGURAL QUIKSILVER NATURAL SELECTION: ALL-MOUNTAIN FREESTYLE INVITATIONAL AT JACKSON HOLE TO BE HELD

JANUARY 30 THROUGH FEBRUARY 5, 2008

Forget Parks, Rails and Pipes: Travis Rice To Host

17 of Worlds Best Snowboarders in Test of Skill on Natural Terrain

Travis, who is also an avid filmmaker, has posted a personal video announcement about the event on Quiksilvers website: www.quiksilver.com/naturalselection

Well leave the course design to Mother Nature and let riders express themselves in an unpredictable measure of true, raw talent, said Travis. To succeed here, riders must embrace the mountain on its own terms and get after it with respect, grace, artistry and fun. This is the return to the soul and roots of riding.

According to Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight, the events goal is more than to simply showcase riding.

This competition is about stripping away anything unnecessary, and exploring the basic, instinctual and powerful balance between mountain and rider, said McKnight.Travis and the riders hope the Natural Selection will emphasize this aspect of the sport and return an organic, soulful approach to competition.

17 Riders - Seven Days - One Mountain

While the event will feature an exclusive field of 17 riders handpicked by Travis coming together to test their skill in an all-natural setting, its also an opportunity for the leaders of snowboarding culture to congregate in the name of fun.

The event is less about winning and more about the worlds best riders pushing each another in a setting that requires each to be at the absolute top of their game, said Travis. But this is also a chance to stop in the middle of the competition season, get together and have fun. Plain and simple just like we all used to do before turning pro.

Details of The Quiksilver Natural Selection

- Features an exclusive field of 17 riders handpicked by Travis Rice, one of the most respected top-tier competitors in the world and winner of multiple X-Games medals

- The week-long event places equal importance on the community aspect of the gathering of riders at one of the nations most storied mountains

- Big mountain invitational with Freestyle and Slopestyle elements

- Seven-day holding period to ensure fresh powder, snow quality and conditions

- Two full days of competition in two areas: Dicks Ditch and Casper Bowl

- $75,000 in prize money with creative contest bonuses and payouts

- The event will be aired on a special webcast on Quiksilver.com

List of Event Riders

Travis Rice DCP

Danny Kass Gigi Ruf

John Jackson Bryan Iguchi

Nicolas Mller Kyle Clancy

Roman De Marchi Hampus Mosesson

Mark Carter Devun Walsh

Mark Landvik Bjorn Leines

Andreas Wiig Sammy Lubke

David Benedek