Labor dispute shifts freestyle World Cup from Tremblant to Mont Gabriel{mosimage}Due to a labor dispute at Station Mont-Tremblant, and at the request of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, Ski Mont Gabriel has agreed to host the freestyle FIS World Cup competition Jan. 6-8.

'We were determined that the World Cup stay on Quebec soil, and more particularly in the Laurentians' said Christian Dufour, marketing director for Mont Saint-Sauveur International. 'We are pleased with the trust placed in us by the CFSA and plan to do everything in our power to give the athletes excellent competition conditions and a quality show for fans.'

Preparation of the competition sites, which usually begins three months before the event, will be a substantial challenge for the resort. More than 100 hours of snowmaking will be required for the aerials site alone. 'Having hosted the Canadian championships several times, we do have the infrastructure and resources needed to stage the events. We will be dealing with very tight deadlines, but knowing the energy and professionalism of our work crews and the members of the organizing committee, we know we can do it' said Normand Daigneault, director of Ski Mont Gabriel.

Hotel Mont Gabriel has agreed to sign on as a partner in the event and will provide rooms for the athletes throughout the competition week.