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Different lineup of events at WSSF

Orage Masters new for 2008

Organizers have combined the familiar with the new at the 2008 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, bringing back popular events like the big air and superpipe, and introducing new events. Side events like the “If Ullr Was a Girl” contest and World Backcountry Freeride Jam are also a little different.

In total $150,000 in cash and prizes will be on the line for athletes at next month’s festival. Some athletes qualified with their results at last year’s festival — including the top-three in each event — and some were pre-selected through a random draw on March 11.

Missing from the festival lineup this year is the Stompede slopestyle, the second big air contest, and the urban rail jam. New this year is the Orage Masters team event.

The festival runs April 11-20 this year.

Big Air — Apr. 10-12

With categories for both skiers and snowboarders, the village big air gets underway with the qualifiers on April 10, followed by the semi-finals on April 11, and the finals under the lights on Saturday, April 12.

The list of invited skiers in the finals includes Sammy Carlson, Justin Dorey, Sean Field, Charles Gagnier, Matt Haward, JF Houle, Jon Olsson, Tanner Rainville, Mike Riddle, Jossi Wells and Colby West. Nine others will be selected out of 85 athletes to take part in the qualifier.

On the snowboard side, the invite list for the finals includes Matt Belzile, Dave Fortin and Craig Beaulieu. They will face 17 riders selected from a field of 74 qualifiers.

Superpipe — Apr. 14-19

A huge field of riders will contend for the Superpipe title this year, after two days of training (April 14-15), the ski qualifier on April 16, the snowboard qualifier on April 17, the semi-finals on April 18, and the Superpipe and Superhit finals on April 19.

For skiers, the list of men prequalified for the finals includes Mike Riddle, Kevin Rolland and Xavier Bertoni. The semi-finals will feature Justin Dorey, Sean Field, Charles Gagnier, Matt Hayward, Jossi Wells and Colby West, plus another 24 athletes from the 58 taking part in the qualifier.

For the women, the finals will feature Sarah Burke and Jessica Cumming, plus the top eight women out of the 23 taking part in the qualifier.

In snowboarding, the men’s final will include Japanese riders Taka Ishihara, Ryo Aono, and Kazuumi Fujita, plus 17 of the 46 riders from the qualifier.

The women’s final will include Soko Yamaoka and Yuki Furihata of Japan, plus eight women from the qualifier.

As in past years the Superpipe contest will be followed by an athlete-judged SuperHit contest where athletes vote for the rider with the best single pipe trick.

Orage Masters — Apr. 11-12

The Orage Masters is not a new event per se, although it is new to Whistler. The fifth annual Orage Masters is a spectator-friendly event that features eight teams of four skiers (three men and one woman), that compete for unique prizes on a custom-built course. The Masters is billed as the “Anti Comp”, and participants — including some of the biggest names in skiing, are encouraged to dress up in costumes to compete.

If Ullr Was a Girl — Apr. 13-15

Back for a second year, the If Ullr Was a Girl contest is a pro women’s event open to both skiers and snowboarders. The pro skiers selected this year include Sarah Burke, Shidasha Holmstead, Angeli Vanlaanen, Jen Hudak, Suzanne Graham and Grete Eliassen. Amateur skiers are Krsitie Geiles and Jenny Strong. For the snowboarders, the pros are Raewyn Reid, Bev Vuilleumier, Celia Miller, Spencer O’Brien and Jordie Karlinski, and the amateurs are Michelle Zeller and Caley Vanular.

A grand prize of $25,000 is up for grabs, after three days of competition — big air, superpipe, and jibbing. For more information, visit www.ifullrwasagirl.com.

World Backcountry Freeride Jam — Apr. 19-20

Backcountry enthusiasts are the purists of both skiing and snowboarding, willing to walk for hours uphill to get a few minutes’ worth of fresh tracks. Still, even purists like to compete sometimes.

Back for its third year, the World Backcountry Freeride Jam celebrates the backcountry with tours, demos, clinics, parties, a photography exhibit, and three backcountry contests sponsored by The North Face.

The Whistler Dash on April 19 is a recreational randonee race that takes place in bounds on a 10 km course through the high alpine of Whistler Mountain. Finish times are expected to be between one to three hours.

On the same day, the Spearhead Passage Canadian National Ski Mountaineering Championships take place. The race is a 26 km out of bounds loop along the Spearhead Passage that tests both stamina and backcountry skills.

The Whistler WindUp on April 19 is an uphill sprint on skis or snowshoes, starting in Whistler Village and finishing at the Roundhouse. That’s 1,200 vertical metres of climbing on the snow.

Registration for all three events and information on other Freeride Jam events is posted at www.wbfj.ca.