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WSSF goes international with television deal

Festival picked up by Global, Fox and syndicates The 2004 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival is going global this year with the announcement of a major television deal that could see the festival broadcast in as many as 400 million households.

Festival picked up by Global, Fox and syndicates

The 2004 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival is going global this year with the announcement of a major television deal that could see the festival broadcast in as many as 400 million households.

W1, the producers of the WSSF, secured the television agreement this week with Global Television Network in Canada, Fox in the U.S., and more than 100 countries around the world through syndicates. This is the largest television broadcast in the nine year history of the festival.

"This represents a substantial breakthrough for the festival," said Doug Perry, president of W1. "The scope of this agreement takes the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival into the next echelon of international exposure, and will be a powerful medium for introducing people to Whistler who may not otherwise be acquainted."

In Canada, the W1 deal with Global and the Xtreme Sports Network includes 28 hours of domestic broadcasting. W1 will produce three specials on the festival that will premiere in November, with repeat broadcasts through the winter season to the 2005 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

W1 will also produce a one-hour special for Fox in co-operation with Tanacity Entertainment and Legacy Films. It will air on Fox’s sports channel FUEL.

The festival specials will also be syndicated world-wide to more than 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Austalia and Asia.

The television productions will reflect the three pillars of the festival, music, arts and sports. The television specials will also profile the artists and athletes featured in events like the World Skiing Invitational, the Ripzone Snowboard Invitational, the Panasonic Pro Photographer Showdown, the Panasonic Filmmaker Showdown and the DKNY//Jeans Outdoor Concert Series.

Creative control will come from W1 and Whistler, says Perry.

"Often television coverage of events is left to the discretion of television producers and editors from out of town who, understandably, may not be intimately familiar with the place," he said. "But in this case we will have hands-on control in all aspects of the production to make sure that Whistler is shown in the most positive light.

"Our goal is devote a considerable amount of airtime to show the beauty of Whistler and introduce viewers to its history, its people, its strengths and its accessibility."

The entire broadcast team for the project is based in the Sea to Sky corridor. The team includes the shooting, production and editing skills of Whistler’s own Jim Budge of Long Run Productions, the animated graphics and editing of Squamish’s Sean Horne and Associates, an original music score by Pemberton’s Martin Richmond, scripting by W1’s Christina Allsop, and camera work from local shooters. Festival director Perry will act as the executive producer.

"Sometimes people don’t realize that some of the best creative talent and expertise lives next door to you," said Perry.

"I believe we have a collective obligation to first recognize the skill that exists locally and open the doors of opportunity to our own. The result is a higher level of authenticity, more attention to detail, and more care for the final production."

If you see camera crews around town during the festival, April 16 to 25, smile and wave. You might be seen in 100 countries.

Writers read during Words & Stories

For the second year in a row, Pique Newsmagazine and the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival are hosting Words & Stories: Mountain Tales From Whistler, featuring Whistler’s diverse range of writing talents.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday, April 18 at Millennium Place at 8 p.m.

Each invited writer will have 12 minutes to share their tales of triumph and tragedy, humour and revelation with the audience.

This year’s host is Michel Beaudry, an award-winning writer, adventurer and traveller. He’s also the author of the book Whistler: Against All Odds.

Other presenters include:

• Leslie Anthony, one of the most travelled and credentialed writers in the ski industry. He is also the editorial and creative director of Skier magazine.

• The Pique’s founding editor Bob Barnett, who is best known for his weekly columns on Whistler.

• He will be joined by another Pique columnist, the always controversial G.D. Maxwell, a.k.a. Whistler’s Conscience, and a perennial choice for Whistler’s favourite writer.

• Jack Christie is a best-selling author of six adventure books, and is one of Canada’s most trusted sources on outdoor recreation and travel. Jack’s column Outside has been featured in the Georgia Straight since 1986.

• Susan Reifer is an accomplished author and teacher with more than 150 articles published in magazines like Ski, Sports Illustrated for Women, Outside and InStyle.

"Words and Stories was created to bring mountain enthusiasts together in a powerful celebration of lifestyle and culture," said Doug Perry, president of W1 and the chairman of the WSSF. "It’s a privilege to host these legendary writers in a tribute to the mountains that challenge and inspire us all."

Tickets for Words & Stories are $5 at the door with all proceeds going towards the Words & Stories Literary Scholarship Fund for emerging writers. Get there early, as last year’s event was at capacity.

WSSF going to the dogs

It started off harmlessly enough with dog owners and dogs in costume parading around the village every Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival in support of WAG. Now the canines are taking over with DogFest, a two-day celebration of dogs on Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25.

The seventh annual Dog Parade will kick off DogFest on Saturday afternoon, with more than 200 dogs and owners expected to take part. The event is still a fundraiser for WAG, Whistler’s shelter and adoption centre for orphaned cats and dogs. With most dogs and owners dressed up and dozens of breeds on display, this has to be seen to be believed.

The parade will be followed by a two-day display of canine skills and abilities in Skier Plaza, along with a showcase of specialty dog products.

For more information on the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival visit the festival Web site at www.whistler2004.com.