VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After a two year hiatus, the biggest event in backcountry freeskiing returns to its roots. Fusing the disciplines of backcountry slopestyle, big mountain, cliffs and alpine ski touring, Red Bull Cold Rush will return to Canada from February 3-6 at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia. The Red Bull Signature Series event will see a handful of the world’s premier skiers invited to battle it out for a chunk of the $36,000 prize purse awarded to the most versatile, well-rounded freeskiers.
The return of Red Bull Cold Rush means a blend of fresh powder and fresh ideas. Along with the new location in Revelstoke, the event is also being updated with fresh elements including innovative on-mountain features and a competition format that places a greater focus on alpine touring. But one thing remains the same: the peer-judged three-day competition will see athletes pushing one another to raise the bar of backcountry freeski progression.
“Red Bull Cold Rush is the one and only top tier event that I, and all the other backcountry skiers, have to express our type of skills in a competition format. The fact that this amazing event is coming back to Canada just gets me all fired up! It’s where I spend my winter doing what we do, so I’ll be right at home this year,” says Sean Pettit, professional backcountry freeskier and two-time winner of Red Bull Cold Rush in 2010 and 2011.
HISTORY OF RED BULL COLD RUSH
In an event that pits man
against nature, nature always has the upper hand. Born and bred in
Canada, the first ever Red Bull Cold Rush was set to take place in 2007
at Red Mountain in Rossland, BC, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Due
to warm temperatures and a deep freeze that followed, the terrain was
deemed unsafe to ski. When the event returned to the mountain in 2008,
it was a skiers’ dream come true. Blue skies and deep snow greeted some
of the best freeskiers in the world. Dave Treadway ended up at the top
of the podium followed by Sean Pettit in 2nd and the late JP
Auclair in 3rd.
In 2009 and 2010, the event moved to Retallack, BC, pushing riders further and into new and challenging territory. A year later, Red Bull Cold Rush moved south of the border for the first US event held at Silverton, Colorado, where it remained for a second year into 2012.
REVELSTOKED! THE MOUNTAIN
Even in the powder-heaven that is
the BC Interior, Revelstoke was a stand-out destination and obvious
choice to play host for the return of Red Bull Cold Rush. Revelstoke
Mountain Resort boasts the most vertical in North America at 5,620 ft.
of lift accessed terrain, two alpine bowls and legendary glades. The
only resort worldwide to offer lift, cat, heli and backcountry access
from one village base, it has become a true ski mecca and synonymous
with backcountry adventure.
“This is the perfect event for us because it showcases all we have to offer – our diverse terrain, excellent conditions and all the challenging vertical and features they could ever want,” says Revelstoke Mountain Resort General Manager Rob Elliott.
On average, the mountain’s peak receives roughly 30-45 ft. of the fluffy stuff every year. For those in search of the white room, the high altitude and location in BC’s Interior Selkirk Mountains brings some of the most consistent quality snow in the region.
PEER PRESSURE: EVENT FORMAT
There’s nothing more important
than impressing your friends, and that is exactly what the premier field
of 15 men and 5 women will do throughout the peer-judged event as
athletes aim to raise the bar of backcountry freestyle progression.
Following each run, competitors will evaluate one another on performance
basing scores on style, speed and technique.
Spread across three powder-laden days, the competition focuses on several distinct ski disciplines including backcountry slopestyle, big mountain, cliffs and alpine touring in order to find the best all-around freeskier. Each day of competition will focus on one specific discipline, with a new emphasis on the ski touring component that will see athletes traversing to different areas of the mountain in the shortest possible time. Athletes will now be able to accumulate more points through the touring portion, helping to offset potentially lower scores in other disciplines that might not be their strong suit.
PARTNERSHIPS
Red Bull is excited to have the support of Revelstoke
Mountain Resort, Selkirk
Tangiers Heli Skiing and the The
Sutton Place Hotel. In addition, for Red Bull Cold Rush 2015,
Red Bull is excited to announce partnership with The
North Face, official host of the ‘Big Mountain’ day of
competition.
About Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Since 2007, Revelstoke
Mountain Resort (RMR) has offered the most vertical in North America at
1,713 metres (5,620 ft.) of lift-accessed terrain, 3,121 acres of fall
line skiing, 2 high alpine bowls, and 65 named runs including legendary
glades and phenomenal groomers. Revelstoke Mountain Resort is also the
only resort worldwide to offer lift, cat, heli and backcountry skiing
from one village base. Across our group of companies that include RMR,
Revelstoke Cat Skiing and Selkirk Tangiers Heli Skiing, skiers and
snowboarders have access to a total of 515,000 acres of terrain. For all
the latest news, visit www.revelstokemountainresort.com.
About The North Face
The North Face, a division of VF
Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1966 with the goal of preparing outdoor
athletes for the rigors of their next adventure. Today we are the
world's leading outdoor brand, creating athlete-tested,
expedition-proven products that help people explore and test the limits
of human potential. We protect our outdoor playgrounds and minimize our
impact on the planet through programs that encourage sustainability. The
North Face products are available at premium and specialty retail
sporting goods stores globally and we are headquartered in California on
a LEED Platinum-certified campus. For more information, please visit www.thenorthface.com.
About The Red Bull Signature Series
The Red Bull Signature
Series is the most progressive action sports property in the world,
featuring best-in-class events such as Frozen Rush, Joyride, Rampage,
Straight Rhythm, Mint 400 and Volcom Pipe Pro. These represent a
collection of the most innovative snowboarding, skiing, surfing,
mountain biking, skateboarding, motorsports and BMX events on custom
courses inspired by the athletes themselves.