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Rebagliati joins honorary board of 2001 WSSF

Olympic snowboard champion Ross Rebagliati has joined the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival board of directors as an honorary member of the 2001 event, which takes place April 13-22.

Olympic snowboard champion Ross Rebagliati has joined the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival board of directors as an honorary member of the 2001 event, which takes place April 13-22.

Rebagliati joins existing honorary board members and ski industry legends Steve Podborski and Rob Boyd, who act as ambassadors and spokespeople for WSSF and Whistler Resort.

"We invited Ross to join our festival board as an honorary member because of his strong ties to Whistler, his successful snowboarding career, and his lifelong commitment to the sport," says Doug Perry, chairman WSSF. "One of the distinguishing features of the festival is that it is largely shaped by the input from those in the industry who have pushed the limits of the sport. Ross, especially as he embarks on the next phase of his career, will be a very valuable advisor to Whistler's annual spring festival."

Born in Vancouver, Rebagliati has resided most of his life in Whistler. A professional snowboarder since 1991, he was catapulted to fame when he won snowboarding’s first gold medal at the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. Ross’ snowboarding career has earned him over 46 top 10 finishes in 71 Pro/World Cup Snowboarding races.

Rebagliati will attend a number of official WSSF events including the Pro Photographer Showdown, which takes place Thursday, April 19 at 9 p.m. at the Whistler Conference Centre. Ross, alongside his new outerwear partner Arc’teryx, will present Arc’teryx prizes to the high-profile action sports photographers who present their work at the Showdown.

Tickets for the Pro Photographer Showdown are available in Whistler at all three Can Ski locations. Tickets are also available in Vancouver at the Westbeach store on West 4th Avenue. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, April 13th at all locations. Last year they sold out in three hours, so organizers are urging people to plan ahead.

This year’s Pro Photographer Showdown will feature the work of photographers Mark Gallup, Jeff Divine, Joe McBride and J. Grant Brittain. The Pro Photographer Search, where the named Best of Show takes the wildcard seat at the Pro Photographer Showdown, takes place at Merlin’s Bar & Grill over two nights: Monday, April 16 and Tuesday, April 17. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets ($5) are available at the door only. Proceeds from the Search will benefit Zero Ceiling, a local Whistler charity offering snow sports alternatives to Vancouver street youth.

"Both nights of the Search will fill up quickly and so we encourage those who want to check it out to get to Merlin’s as the doors open at 9 p.m. to ensure entry. The first photographer will begin his or her presentation at 9:30 p.m. sharp," says Catherine Yates, Multimedia Events Producer.

The sixth annual Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival takes place April 13-22. Highlights include the internationally televised World Skiing Invitational and World Snowboarding Championship, a high energy outdoor concert series, demo days, film premieres, industry symposiums and non-stop parties.