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U.S. SKI CROSS AND SNOWBOARDCROSS TEAM ATHLETES IN TELLURIDE THIS WEEK
Ski and Snowboard Cross Training Week of Dec.7
Additional PGS World Cup Final on Tuesday, Dec. 15
Telluride Hosts World Cup Dec. 15-20

TELLURIDE, Colo. (Dec. 4, 2008) – Telluride is getting ready for a whole lot of worldwide attention in the next couple of weeks. The US ski cross and snowboardcross athletes arrive in Telluride over the next few days and will begin training leading up to the LG Snowboard FIS  World Cup Telluride the following week.

Not only are the  US World Cup SBX (snowboardcross) and PGS (parallel giant slalom) athletes coming to compete in qualifying events for the Winter Olympic Games, but the US ski cross athletes will be in town for Olympic training Dec. 5-10. Athletes, coaches, families and friends from all over the world will visit Telluride this Dec.!

Also confirmed today, the PGS World Cup scheduled to take place in Italy Dec. was recently cancelled and Telluride Ski Resort has picked up this event. An additional PGS World Cup Final will take place Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.

US Ski team athletes attending include ski cross X Games gold medalists Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) and Casey Puckett (Aspen, CO). On the snowboardcross side, Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME), Olympic silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT), five time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA), X Games silver medalist Graham Watanabe (Sun Valley, ID), Olympic halfpipe gold medalist Ross Powers (Okemo, VT) and World Championship bronze medalist Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI).

Snowboardcross athletes include Jonathan Cheever (Saugus, MA), Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Anchorage, AK), Jayson Hale (Sierraville, CA), Pat Holland (Squaw Valley, CA), Robert Minghini (South Lake Tahoe, CA), Shaun Palmer (South Lake Tahoe, CA), Brooke Shaw (Litchfirld, CT), Jason Smith (Basalt, CO) and Marni Yamada (Seattle, WA).

 “We are thrilled to have US Ski Team’s ski cross, snowboardcross, and PGS athletes here in Telluride, and to be able to support these world-class competitors as they prepare to represent our country in the upcoming Olympics,” said Elizabeth Howe, executive director of resort services for the resort. “For the second consecutive year, we are happy to welcome these athletes to Telluride and support them on their quest for gold!”

The athletes will ski with the Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. All US ski cross, snowboardcross, and PGS athletes will also attend a poster signing at the Hop Garden at 4 pm, open to the public. Free posters, photos with the athletes and food and drink will also be on hand. All are welcome to cheer the US Team toward the Olympics!

Wednesday, Dec. 9, has been designated as the ‘Telluride Media Day’. Media from around the world will arrive in Telluride for unprecedented athlete access before the Winter Games. Interviews and training will occur the entire day, as media report to their outlets directly from Telluride.

Ski cross will debut at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. The ski cross training events incorporate a variety of jumps, banking turns and rollers for groups of four skiers or riders to race through at one time. Strength and endurance play a significant role in this type of competition along with the technical ability to maneuver through the course with three other competitors.

The training takes place on Misty Maiden off of the Village Express (Lift 4), and will be easily viewable for the public. Various course setups will help the athletes refine their skills and gain confidence racing head-to-head before heading off to live competition.

For more information on the World Cup, please go to www.tellurideworldcup.com.

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