Freeskiing: Aspen/Snowmass hosts freeride championships March 10-11

Freeskiing: Aspen/Snowmass hosts freeride championships March 10-11{mosimage}Aspen/Snowmass hosts the Powerade Colorado Freeride Championships presented by Stihl on March 10-11 at Snowmass.

This event should draw some of the best freeride skiers and snowboarders in the nation and is part of the IFSA series.

The Colorado Freeride Championships brings spectators a weekend of steeps, cliffs and monster hucks. The event is held on Snowmass’ famed Hanging Valley Headwall and Burn Side Cliffs, steep faces littered with rocks, cliffs and hanging snowfields. More than 22 feet of snow has fallen this season, ensuring a great competition.

Competitors this weekend include Kiffor Berg, Frank Shine, Cliff Bennett, Nick Devore and Jamie Britt. Past champions include skiers Ted Davenport and two-time U.S. national freeskiing champion Rex Wehrman.

Friday’s event will take place on the Hanging Valley Headwall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Saturday’s comp will move to the Burnside Cliffs and can be viewed from the deck at Gwyn’s High Alpine restaurant, also from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a postevent party presented by Cloudveil each day starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Blue Door in Snowmass.
                               
Event sponsors are Powerade, Stihl, Bud Light, Cloudveil, Town of Snowmass Village, Nissan, Smith, Giro, AMEX, Gevalia, The Aspen Times, KSNO, Freeskier, Rocky Mountain Sunscreen and Aspen/Snowmass.

Bud Light Big Air Fridays continue at Snowmass every Friday through April 14. Catch some of the area’s best shredders launch off the massive jump located on Fanny Hill at the edge of the Snowmass Mall. This big-air contest combines skiers and snowboarders in a 40-minute jam-session at 2 p.m. Judges will choose four skiers and four snowboarders from the jam session to continue on to the finals. The finalists will have one jump and then be placed according to best trick. A live band performs after every Bud Light Big Air Friday from 3-4:30 p.m. There are fireworks at 7p.m. above Fanny Hill.

– Aspen/Snowmass