The North Face Masters of Snowboarding 2010 Tour stop #1 at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort


Here you will find important information you may need while at Snowbird and in the Salt Lake area this weekend. We hope that you find this information helpful in getting around; enjoying the event and the hospitality that Mountain Sports International, The North Face, Primaloft, Subaru, and Snowbird have to offer. If you have further questions, please contact me, Nicole Greener, MSI Athlete Communications at ngreener@mtsports.com.

With fresh snow in the forecast this week, Snowbird venues are primed and ready to be ripped up. We look forward to seeing you up at Snowbird this weekend!
Sincerely,
The Mountain Sports International Team

Event Management Team:
Series & Event Director: Bryan Barlow - bbarlow@mtsports.com

Head Judge: Tom Burt - tbtbtb1964@yahoo.com

Competition Director: Patrick Brennan - patrick@mtsports.com

Communications and Media Director: Estelle Clairoux - estelle@mtsports.com

Athlete Registration and Scoring Manager:
Nicole Greener - ngreener@mtsports.com

Visual Media Director: Keith Carlsen kcarlsen@mtsports.com

Competition Starter: Ron Pankey

Event Host Announcer: Frankie Alisuag

Event Sport Announcer: Nick Perata

ATHLETE SCHEDULE

Friday, Jan 22 Registration

9:00am-3:00pm Media check in Alpine room

9:00am-3:00pm Registration open Alpine room

9:00am Venues announced Alpine room

9:00am-3:00pm Inspection open TBD

3:30pm-4:00pm Athlete meeting Alpine room

Saturday, Jan 23 Masters Day 1

8:00am-3:00pm Media check in Alpine room

8:00am-8:15am Athlete load Tram

8:15am-9:00am Inspection open TBD

9:00am-9:10am Forerunners begin TBD

9:15am-2:00pm Day 1 begins TBD

1:30pm-3:00pm Day 2 inspection TBD

3:30pm-4:00pm Athlete meeting TBD

Sunday, Jan 24 Masters Day 2

8:00am-11:00am Media check in Alpine room

8:00am-8:15am Athlete load Tram

8:15am-9:00am Inspection open TBD

9:00am-9:10am Forerunners begins TBD

9:15am-1:30pm Day 2 run 2 begins TBD

2:30pm-3:00pm Awards Tram plaza

4:00pm-5:00pm Athlete poster signing Tram plaza

5:00pm-10:00pm Athlete after party Tram club

Monday, Jan 25 Weather Day

**All athlete and media registration will be held in the Alpine Room of the tram building...you will find this room downstairs from the tram.

**All athletes (even if already registered online) MUST come to registration before 3pm on Friday to finalize their registration. Those who do not show up will forfeit their spot in the competition.

COMPETITION VENUES
The goal of The North Face Masters is to showcase the very best terrain at each resort with the following considerations: weather, safety, snow conditions and consultation with resort management and snow safety. As of today, venues will be Silver Fox for Day One and North Baldy for Day Two. Photos are attached.


THE NORTH FACE MASTERS JUDGES

TOM BURT--Head Judge A.K.A.: TB
D.O.B.: 1964-08-14
Years Riding: 27
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Two gold duct tapes from the Baker Banked Slalom
LOWDOWN
Riding since 1982, Tom Burt knows how to hold his own. In 1989, Tom Burt received Rider of the Year honors from International Snowboard Magazine, a publication that touted itself as "The First Mag, the Last Word." The founder and publisher of snowboarding's first print medium, Tom Hsieh, immortalized Burt with these words: "ISM would like to honor a snowboarder who, in our opinion, embodies the true spirit of snowboarding. One who will, through his actions, leave a positive and lasting impression." Tom has been around for way too long and has contributed immensely to snowboarding and we are honored to have him become a judge on The North Face Masters tour.
FILMOGRAPHY
"Simple Pleasures," Mack Dawg Productions
"TB2 New Way of Thinking," Standard Films
"TB3 Coming Down the Mountain," Standard Films
"TB6 Carpe Diem," Standard Films
"TB7 North of Heaven," Standard Films
"TB8 Infinity," Standard Films
SPONSORS
Winterstick, Heli-Hansen, Da Kine, Salomon Boots, Von Zipper

ANDY HETZEL--Judge A.K.A.: Hetzbanger
D.O.B.: 1969-06-07
Resides: Cardiff by the Sea, California
Years Riding: 26
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Current World Mogul Champ
Jumped a train with Temp
Beat Palmers Ass in several boarder cross events
Naked Kicker
LOWDOWN
Hetzel, a 24 year snowboarding veteran, has done it all by competing in halfpipe, big air, slopestyle and boardercross events. The Current World Mogul Champ's favorite places to ride include Mount Baker, Snowbird, Squaw and Valdez. Some of his career highlights include winning a boardercross in Laax, Switzerland and jumping a train. Hetzel will be a nice addition on the 2009 judging lineup for The North Face Masters tour.
FILMOGRAPHY
"Totally Bored," Standard Films
"TB5," Standard Films
"TB6 Carpe Diem," Standard Films
"TB7 North of Heaven," Standard Films
"TB 8 Infinity," Standard Films
"Easy Rider," FLF Productions
SPONSORS
Northwest Snowboard Shop, One Ball Jay

TEMPLE CUMMINS--Judge A.K.A.: TC
D.O.B.: 1974-09-17
Resides: Washington
Years Riding: 23
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Gold Duct Tape from the Baker Banked Slalom
Getting to ride all over the world
LOWDOWN
Cummins has been on the forefront of the snowboard industry since the beginning. He is most known for his epic jump over the moving train in the movie "Easy Rider," where he helped set the standard for modern snowboard films. Working closely with some of the biggest snowboard manufactures over the years Temple has guided the industry to where we see it today. Whether it be through his pro-model boards or his savage style of shredding Temple Cummins helped create what snowboarding is now.
FILMOGRAPHY
"Easy Rider," FLF Productions
"TB6," Standard Films
"TB10 Optigrab," Standard Films
"Hurricane," Mervin Manufacturing
"The Mockumentary" Mervin Manufacturing
SPONSORS
GNU, Northwest Snowboards, Oneballjay


JULIE ZELL Judge A.K.A.: JZ
D.O.B.: 1967-11-13
Resides: Jackson, WY
PROFESSIONAL STATS
Years Riding: 20
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
3 Time Winner of the King of the Hill
1st Verbier Extreme
Several X-Games Boarder X finishes
LOWDOWN
Julie Zell has spent the better of her life immersed in snowboarding, along the way becoming one of the most respected female big mountain snowboarders in the history of the sport. Zell holds several titles including three-time winner of the King of the Hill. She has succesfully executed several first descents in Alaska's Chugach Mountain as documented in Teton Gravity Research films. The mother of a three-year-old boy, Zell now coaches a women's-only snowboarding camp in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has been judging big mountain snowboarding events all over the world for over 10 years and her variety of experience makes Zell the perfect choice for The North Face Masters judging panel.
FILMOGRAPHY
The Continuum - Teton Gravity Research
Harvest -Teton Gravity Research
Uprising - Teton Gravity Research
Furthur - Teton Gravity Research
Ride - Warren Miller
Cold Fusion - Warren Miller
Our Turn - XX Productions
Board of the World 2
SPONSORS
Stone Table Restaurant


2010 JUDGING FORMAT AND CRITERIA
Format - 2-day competition
The overall goal is to select winners of the competition based on the best of (2) runs on Day 2. In the case that only (1) run is possible on day 2 due to weather, then best run of that day will win. Please note that Day 1 scores will not carry over, but could dictate the winner if inclement weather prevents competition the remainder of the weekend.

Day 1
90-100 riders total - Approximately 30% Women, 70% Men
Approximately 40 - 60% of Day 1 riders will advance to Day 2
Next day weather forecast will have bearing on how many we take
Scheduling changes, delays, and other rider notifications will be distributed at both the finish area and registration room. Start orders will be provided each morning. Athletes are responsible for keeping track of the competition flow and being on time for their scheduled start.

Day 2
The goal is to utilize a different and more advanced venue on Day 2
Another cut will be made after the first run on Day 2. Please note that not everyone gets (2) runs on the second day.
Approximately 10-15 riders across men's and women's categories will advance to Finals for their third run of the competition.

Finals
Best run of the day wins
Scoring Methods
Overall Impression (one score per judge)
Judging panel consists of (3) judges and (1) head judge
Head judge does not score*
0-100 system
Each of our judges' scores will be averaged to produce the score for that run.
*In the event that a judge is sick or unable to attend, head judge will score

Scoring Guidelines
Line
Difficulty
Originality
Fall line vs. traversing

Control
Is the rider in control at all times? In addition to speed this includes airs, linking turns, and not side slipping.

Fluidity/ Flow
Is momentum/ speed maintained
Continuous flow throughout the run even if billy goating

Creativity and Style
Utilizing features
Tricks/ Freestyle
Airs/ Jumps

**Falls/ Crashes
Overall judged scores will be affected by falls but it does not mean a clean, easy run by one competitor will out score a difficult run that has a non interruptive fall in it.

There will be strong penalization for falling above a no-fall zone, thus putting the rider at serious risk. Full out of control falls will be strongly penalized anywhere on a run
Falls of all types will impact all criteria categories. (i.e. hand dragging, butt checks, tomahawks, etc.)

All other types of falls (hand touches, hand drags, wheelie bars, and sits) will be taken into context of the run. Examples: Did the rider just huck and not try to land? Did rider have control in the air and just could not pull it off? Did the fall change the fluidity? Did or could another rider stick that jump

Stop Landings / Control maneuvers - Riders may choose to land in a way they can stop themselves abruptly due to lack of room in the fall line of the landing. How this is executed can affect scores in either direction. If the maneuver is necessary for the line, flow was not interrupted, control not lost, etc scores will be affected positively. However, if the maneuver was not necessary for the line, or flow is interrupted scores will go down.

PRIZE MONEY
Each stop of The North Face Masters has a $15,000 prize purse, the breakdown is as follows:
Men
1st $3500.00
2nd $2000.00
3rd $1000.00
4th $750.00
5th $250.00

Women
1st $3500.00
2nd $2000.00
3rd $1000.00

DISCOUNTED LODGING FOR ATHLETES AND FAMILY

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is offering a special $199 accommodation rate for athletes (plus tax and resort fee), subject to availability. All rates are non-refundable within 14 days of arrival and are subject to change without notice. The Inn, Lodge, or the east wing of the Cliff Lodge on Bedrooms or Studios. For reservations call 800-453-3000.

DINING GUIDE & APRES SKI AT SNOWBIRD

For more information, please use the following link.

http://www.snowbird.com/dining/diningguide/apresski.html


Estelle Clairoux
Media, PR & Communications coordinator
Mountain Sports International, Inc.
1435 S. State St. Salt Lake City, UT 84115
801.349.4638 direct
801.557.1354 mobile
801.349.4609 fax

estelle@mtsports.com

www.freeskiingworldtour.com
www.mtsports.com
www.thenorthface.com/masters