ADRIEN COIRIER AND SQUAW'S JAMIE BURGE WIN THE

INAUGURAL SUBARU SQUAW VALLEY USA FREESKIING OPEN

Freeskiers from around the globe, including Canada,

U.S.A. and France battle it out for $7,500 with the men’s and

women’s overall Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series point leaders taking

home $2,500 each 

[Squaw Valley

USA] February 17, 2007- The inaugural

Subaru Squaw Valley USA Freeskiing Open took place this week under

gorgeous, sunny skies and mild conditions in the Enchanted Forest

and Cornice II areas of Squaw Valley USA. After receiving over three

feet of snow prior to the contest, snow conditions were excellent

and competitors put on an amazing show accordingly. After two

extraordinarily exciting days of skiing, Adrien Coirier of Les Arcs,

France and Squaw Valley's Jamie Burge came out on top of the stacked

international field. Due to good weather, Mountain Sports

International (MSI) was able to include a super-finals run for the

top six women and top 10 men. <!--

D(["mb","</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Sitting

in first position going into this morning’s run, freeskiing legend

and ski movie regular Jamie Burge solidified her lead on the women’s

field with an extremely easy looking, smooth and aggressive first

run which included a 20-foot cliff drop. Burge went into her second

run six points ahead of Jess McMillan of Jackson Hole, WY. With such

a commanding lead, Burge could have taken it easy, yet she chose

another technical line with lots of rock exposure which sealed her

fate as winner of the first ever Subaru Squaw Valley USA Freeskiing

Open. The remaining top six women who advanced to the finals were

Jess McMillan, Katharine Lange, Kate Olson, Emily Turner and Molly

Baker. They remained in that finish order after the

super-finals.</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">“I love

Squaw Valley, I ski here everyday,” said Subaru Squaw Valley USA

Freeskiing Open women’s champion Jamie Burge. “I still compete

because competitions are great, they really make you push yourself.

It forces you to step it up and be competitive and its fun. You get

to see everybody. I’m so honored to represent Squaw today and win

this!” </font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">After

Thursday’s qualifier round only 8.6 points separated all 32 men who

advanced, so it was almost anyone’s game to win or lose going into

today’s finals. First run stand-outs included: Ben Wheeler’s fast,

smooth run, which incorporated a 15-foot cliff drop to a straight

line; Kevin O’Meara whose gigantic, perfectly executed double drop

off the top section of the venue won him a Sickbird nomination;

Craig Garbiel’s fast, aggressive airs and impressive gap-jump; and

Adrien Coirier, recent winner of the Subaru Telluride Freeskiing

Open, whose hesitation-free, beautifully executed run catapulted him

into first place going into the super-finals.",1]

);

//-->

Sitting

in first position going into this morning’s run, freeskiing legend

and ski movie regular Jamie Burge solidified her lead on the women’s

field with an extremely easy looking, smooth and aggressive first

run which included a 20-foot cliff drop. Burge went into her second

run six points ahead of Jess McMillan of Jackson Hole, WY. With such

a commanding lead, Burge could have taken it easy, yet she chose

another technical line with lots of rock exposure which sealed her

fate as winner of the first ever Subaru Squaw Valley USA Freeskiing

Open. The remaining top six women who advanced to the finals were

Jess McMillan, Katharine Lange, Kate Olson, Emily Turner and Molly

Baker. They remained in that finish order after the

super-finals.

“I love

Squaw Valley, I ski here everyday,” said Subaru Squaw Valley USA

Freeskiing Open women’s champion Jamie Burge. “I still compete

because competitions are great, they really make you push yourself.

It forces you to step it up and be competitive and its fun. You get

to see everybody. I’m so honored to represent Squaw today and win

this!”

After

Thursday’s qualifier round only 8.6 points separated all 32 men who

advanced, so it was almost anyone’s game to win or lose going into

today’s finals. First run stand-outs included: Ben Wheeler’s fast,

smooth run, which incorporated a 15-foot cliff drop to a straight

line; Kevin O’Meara whose gigantic, perfectly executed double drop

off the top section of the venue won him a Sickbird nomination;

Craig Garbiel’s fast, aggressive airs and impressive gap-jump; and

Adrien Coirier, recent winner of the Subaru Telluride Freeskiing

Open, whose hesitation-free, beautifully executed run catapulted him

into first place going into the super-finals.<!--

D(["mb","</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">In true

Squaw Valley fashion, the super-finals on Friday began with Squaw

locals, and skiing legends, Daron Rahlves and Gunner Newquist

forerunning the venue. The two put on a spectacle, skiing together

in unison, straight-lining the entire top portion of the venue and

airing a 25-foot cliff near the bottom. </font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">The

men’s super-finals will go down as being one of the best in

Freeskiing history. Nine of the 16 men who advanced to the

super-finals were nominated for the Sickbird award for their antics.

Cliff Bennett of Snowbird, UT, in fourth after today’s first run,

had an incredible second run, nailing each and every aspect he hit,

launching him to second position overall. Kevin O’Meara of Squaw

Valley USA was sitting in second place going into the super-final,

but was knocked back to eighth overall when he did a somersault upon

landing a double drop. He did, however receive his third Sickbird

nomination of the competition. Adrien Corier of Les Arcs, France,

who was just over two points ahead of O’Meara going into the finals,

skied impossibly fast and nailed a huge straight-line with two

20-foot cliffs throughout the middle of the venue. He ended up

winning the competition by nearly ten points. Coirier now leads the

overall point’s standings for the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing

Series.</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">“I have

been working so hard for this,” said Subaru Squaw Valley USA

Freeskiing Open men’s champion Adrien Coirier. “I was running out of

money before the winter because I spent all my money in the summer

training for this. Today the skiing was just like my mountains in

France, it was really good snow and the line I did was exactly what

I like to ski. It was perfect and I’m so happy to have won another

event.”",1]

);

//-->

In true

Squaw Valley fashion, the super-finals on Friday began with Squaw

locals, and skiing legends, Daron Rahlves and Gunner Newquist

forerunning the venue. The two put on a spectacle, skiing together

in unison, straight-lining the entire top portion of the venue and

airing a 25-foot cliff near the bottom.

The

men’s super-finals will go down as being one of the best in

Freeskiing history. Nine of the 16 men who advanced to the

super-finals were nominated for the Sickbird award for their antics.

Cliff Bennett of Snowbird, UT, in fourth after today’s first run,

had an incredible second run, nailing each and every aspect he hit,

launching him to second position overall. Kevin O’Meara of Squaw

Valley USA was sitting in second place going into the super-final,

but was knocked back to eighth overall when he did a somersault upon

landing a double drop. He did, however receive his third Sickbird

nomination of the competition. Adrien Corier of Les Arcs, France,

who was just over two points ahead of O’Meara going into the finals,

skied impossibly fast and nailed a huge straight-line with two

20-foot cliffs throughout the middle of the venue. He ended up

winning the competition by nearly ten points. Coirier now leads the

overall point’s standings for the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing

Series.

“I have

been working so hard for this,” said Subaru Squaw Valley USA

Freeskiing Open men’s champion Adrien Coirier. “I was running out of

money before the winter because I spent all my money in the summer

training for this. Today the skiing was just like my mountains in

France, it was really good snow and the line I did was exactly what

I like to ski. It was perfect and I’m so happy to have won another

event.”<!--

D(["mb","</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">As

always, spectators enjoyed watching freeskiing’s elite battle it out

for the Tobias Lee Memorial Sickbird buckle award. The Sickbird

award is presented to the competitor with the most spirited

competition run, often involving super-human talent and agility.

This weekend’s Sickbird buckle was awarded to Squaw Valley's Kevin

O’Meara, who was nominated more than any other athlete, at this stop

of the tour, for his incredible antics.</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">The

North Face Young Gun Award returns in 2007, honoring outstanding new

talent in competitive freeskiing. Points accumulated throughout the

season will crown one lucky under-21-year-old a full sponsorship

from The North Face and the honor of becoming the next Young Gun

winner. This stop’s winner was 21-year-old Brady Smedsrud of Red

Lodge Mtn, MT.</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">New in

2007, MSI will be posting same-day video broadcasts on the newly

redesigned <a hrefu003d"http://usfreeskiing.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">usfreeskiing.com</a> featuring 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 mere

hours after each day concludes.</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">The

Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series continues in three weeks at the 10th

Anniversary of the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals at Snowbird, UT.

Additional stops to the U.S. Freeskiing Series, which has grown from

four stops to five in 2007, include the Subaru Jackson Hole

Freeskiing Open at Jackson Hole, WY, the Subaru North American

Freeskiing Championships at Kirkwood, CA and past tour stop the

Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open.",1]

);

//-->

As

always, spectators enjoyed watching freeskiing’s elite battle it out

for the Tobias Lee Memorial Sickbird buckle award. The Sickbird

award is presented to the competitor with the most spirited

competition run, often involving super-human talent and agility.

This weekend’s Sickbird buckle was awarded to Squaw Valley's Kevin

O’Meara, who was nominated more than any other athlete, at this stop

of the tour, for his incredible antics.

The

North Face Young Gun Award returns in 2007, honoring outstanding new

talent in competitive freeskiing. Points accumulated throughout the

season will crown one lucky under-21-year-old a full sponsorship

from The North Face and the honor of becoming the next Young Gun

winner. This stop’s winner was 21-year-old Brady Smedsrud of Red

Lodge Mtn, MT.

New in

2007, MSI will be posting same-day video broadcasts on the newly

redesigned usfreeskiing.com featuring 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 mere

hours after each day concludes.

The

Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series continues in three weeks at the 10th

Anniversary of the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals at Snowbird, UT.

Additional stops to the U.S. Freeskiing Series, which has grown from

four stops to five in 2007, include the Subaru Jackson Hole

Freeskiing Open at Jackson Hole, WY, the Subaru North American

Freeskiing Championships at Kirkwood, CA and past tour stop the

Subaru Telluride Freeskiing Open.<!--

D(["mb","</font></p>

<p></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Special

thanks to Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series sponsors:</font></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Subaru

of America<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">The North

Face<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Corona<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Nordica<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Yakima<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Scott

USA<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Sports Insurance<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Powder

Magazine<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Emergen-C<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Leatherman<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Grabber<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Ski Press

Magazine<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">IFSA<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Snowbird Ski

& Summer Resort<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Jackson Hole

Mountain Resort<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Telluride Ski

Resort<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Squaw Valley USA<br></font><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">Kirkwood Mountain

Resort</font></p>

<p></p>

<p><font faceu003d"Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" sizeu003d"2">For more

information log onto <a hrefu003d"http://www.squaw.com/press-release/www.usfreeskiing.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">",1]

);

//-->

Special

thanks to Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series sponsors:

Subaru

of AmericaThe North

FaceCoronaNordicaYakimaScott

USASports InsurancePowder

MagazineEmergen-CLeathermanGrabberSki Press

MagazineIFSASnowbird Ski

& Summer ResortJackson Hole

Mountain ResortTelluride Ski

ResortSquaw Valley USAKirkwood Mountain

Resort

For more

information log onto <!--

D(["mb","http://www.usfreeskiing.com </a></font></p>

<p></p>

<h3 alignu003d"center"><font sizeu003d"2">MEDIA INQUIRES AND FOR MORE

INFORMATION CONTACT<br></font></h3>

<h3 alignu003d"center"><font sizeu003d"2">Keith Carlsen<br>Director of

Marketing, Communications, & Visual Media <br>Mountain Sports

International<br>office:

801.349.4614<br><a hrefu003d"mailto:keith@mtsports.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">keith@mtsports.com</a></font></h3>

<h3 alignu003d"center"><font sizeu003d"2"><br>Cara Williams<br>PR &

Communications Coordinator<br>Mountain Sports

International<br>office:

801.349.4608<br><a hrefu003d"mailto:cara@mtsports.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">cara@mtsports.com</a></font></h3>

<h3 alignu003d"center"><font sizeu003d"2"><br>REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND

ATHLETE INQUIRIES CONTACT</font></h3>

<h3 alignu003d"center"><font sizeu003d"2"><br>Barb Hamblett and Nicole

Leitner<br>Registration Team and Athlete Liaisons

<br><br></font><font sizeu003d"2">Barb Hamblett<br>Mountain Sports

International<br>East Coast Logistics

Manager<br><a hrefu003d"mailto:barb@mtsports.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">barb@mtsports.com</a></font></h3>

<h3 alignu003d"center"><font sizeu003d"2">Nicole Leitner<br>Mountain Sports

International<br>National Logistics

Manager<br><a hrefu003d"mailto:nicole@mtsports.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">nicole@mtsports.com</a><br></font></h3>

<p></p>

<p> </p>

<p alignu003d"center"><font faceu003d"Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" sizeu003d"2"><strong>For Great Lodging Specials Call 866-366-7261<br>or

visit <a hrefu003d"http://www.squawvacations.com" targetu003d"_blank" onclicku003d"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">",1]

);

//-->http://www.usfreeskiing.com