Ethan Frome

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS:

Winter 2000/2001 Gretchen Bergen 970.887.5202

Kelly Howard 970.887.5203

BERTHOUD PASS BADASS SERIESä

RETURNS FOR A 3^rd YEAR

BERTHOUD PASS, COLO. – The Berthoud Pass BadAss SeriesÔ will return this season to challenge skiers and riders who dare to showcase their talents on Berthoud’s slopes, some of Colorado’s most extreme backcountry terrain. The Berthoud BadAss SeriesÔ is a sequence of freeriding events for skiers and snowboarders. Series winners go on to compete in the BadAss 2001 Championships, which serve as a qualifier for the International Free Skiing North American Tour. New this year, in an effort to promote freeriding for all ages, the Junior National Freeride Championships for riders ages 15 and younger have been added to the final days of the BadAss 2001 Championships. Berthoud Pass ski area and Apex Magazine have combined efforts to make these events possible.

The Series consists of three one-day freeriding events for skiers, telemark skiers and snowboarders. Participants are limited to a field of 100 and may participate in the entire series or in individual events.

Dates of the events are as follows:

January 27, 2001 Berthoud BadAss SeriesÔ #1

February 24, 2001 Berthoud BadAss SeriesÔ #2

March 10, 2001 Berthoud BadAss SeriesÔ #3

March 28-April 1, 2001 BadAss 2001 Championships & Junior National Freeride Championships*

The top three contestants from the series in each division (male/female, alpine skier/telemark skier/snowboarder) will receive an automatic bye into the BadAss 2001 Championships, avoiding the qualifying round. First place overall winners in the Series in each division will also automatically be entered in the Championships and will not be required to pay the entry fee. The BadAss 2001 Championships are sanctioned by the International Freeskiing Association (IFSA) and serve as a qualifying event for the International Free Skiing North American Tour. Participants will compete for a cash purse and prizes. The event is expected to draw top skiers from the Central Rocky Mountain region, the Front Range, nationally and internationally. The events are easily accessible to spectators.

Berthoud Pass ski area is Colorado’s oldest ski area and home to some of the most pristine backcountry terrain in the state. Avoid the traffic, Berthoud Pass is located 50 miles west of Denver, take I-70 to exit 232. Continue north on U.S. Highway 40, Berthoud Pass ski area is at the summit of Berthoud Pass. For more information on events, activities and programs please check out www.berthoudpass.com or call 800.SKI.BERT.

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Some of the top winners from last year include:

Maeve Nevins, home ski area: Crested Butte, 1st in Series, 1st in Championships – female alpine.
Tom Carrillo, home ski area: Berthoud, 5th in Series, 5th in Championships – male alpine.
Jesse Shotwell – home ski area: A-Basin, 2nd in series, 1st in Championships – male snowboard.

* The Jr. National Freeride Championships are open to riders ages 15 and younger. The 1-day event will be held either March 31 or April 1, depending on the weather.

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