ALYESKA RESORT’S SUMMER FREESTYLE CAMP STARTS OFF WITH PERFECT CONDITIONS, NEW HALF PIPE AND STRONG PARTICIPATION

June 9, 2010 (Girdwood, Alaska) – Close to one hundred skiers and snowboarders participated on the first day on Alyeska Resort’s two-week long Summer Camp program. With favorable weather, ample snow depth and a partnership with terrain park construction experts, Snow Grind, the features, rails and half pipe were well received by camp participants.

“The month of June is typically a non-ski and snowboard month, leaving a hole in the freestyle community,” said Josh Lempert, owner and founder of Snow Grind, a company that specializes in snow park design, building and consulting, “With the reinvention of Alyeska’s summer camp and the full support of upper management, we’ve been given an amazing opportunity to build a full mountain jib fest on about two miles worth of terrain accessed by a high speed quad.”

After a two year hiatus, Alyeska Resort has launched its own freestyle camp program to further support its growing terrain park and super pipe investment. The demand from Anchorage freestyle skiers and snowboarders has been very positive, and offering a dedicated freestyle camp program aids in the progression of this side of the sport.

Camp features include a half pipe, multiple quarter pipes, tables, rails and boxes, along with Alyeska’s plentiful natural terrain spread out over nearly one hundred acres. The goal of camp organizers was to create a safe, fun and kid friendly environment where participants could improve their skills without crowd pressure or intimidation.

Summer Camp is geared towards all ages and those of intermediate skiing and snowboarding abilities and above. Select national-level pro-skiers and snowboarders and a number of local coaching experts were invited to work with the campers. Levitation Project, a collective of artists, athletes, designers, photographers and cinematographers, also brought up team athletes to support Alyeska’s camp and will be filming participants in action to assist in coaching and instruction. The Alyeska Mountain Learning Center, Big Alaska Snowboard and Freeski Club, and Alyeska Ski and Snowboard Club all contributed coaches.

One celebrity coach is Alaska local and professional skier Tim Durtschi, who is happy with the upper mountain conditions for camp. “Alyeska was blessed with a lot of snow this winter, which is making it possible to ski full laps on Chair 6, which is great for the kids,” he says, “and when you are this far north, the sun seems to travel at a snail’s pace, staying high in the sky throughout the day.”

Camp is scheduled for two sessions, June 7-11, 2010 and June 14-18, 2010. Summer camp registration is available online and at the Alyeska Tram Ticket Office. Camp participants can choose from one, three and five day camp packages inclusive of lift ticket, coaching and lunch. The on-hill camp hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more advanced skiers and snowboarders, there is a one-day lift ticket only option that does not include coaching or lunch. To register and to learn more about Alyeska Summer Camp, please visit http://www.AlyeskaResort.com.