JEEP KING OF THE MOUNTAIN COMES TO TSV
November 10, 2006 � The Jeep� King of the Mountain Series (www.jeepsports.com), professional snow sports� most prestigious event, announced today that it has selected Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico as a host site for the 2006-2007 Skiing & Snowboarding World Professional Championships, scheduled for Feb. 10, 2007.
The Jeep King of the Mountain Series features 24 of the world�s elite snow-sports athletes battling one another on a unique Y-cross racecourse for the coveted title of World Professional Champion. The event offers the richest prize purse in the sport, with a payout topping $450,000 as well as $20,000 in bonus cash from John Paul Mitchell Systems and the keys to a new 2007 Jeep Patriot. Each event of the series will be broadcast on CBS Sports and via national syndication, providing tremendous exposure for the roster of Olympians, World Champions and National Champions.
The format of the Skiing & Snowboarding World Professional Championships features six races held over four different event weekends from December 2006 through March 2007. This includes two pure ski events, two pure snowboard events, and two unique events that combine both skiing and snowboarding, making the Jeep King of the Mountain Series the first integrated racing program in North America. The complete schedule of race stops for 2006-2007 include:
December 2, 2006 � Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort, Utah
January 20, 2007 � Europa-Sportregion Zell am See-Kaprun, Salzburg, Austria
February 10, 2007 � Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico
March 3, 2007 � Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado
While the final roster will be announced in the coming weeks, early indications show a line-up for 2006-2007 that will be heavy on World Cup titlists, World Cup Champions, World Champions, National Champions and Winter X Games and Gravity Games gold medalists.
In addition to the roster of pre-qualified invited athletes, the Jeep King of the Mountain Series will continue to incorporate the highly popular National Open Qualifier system at each event, allowing top-notch amateur and professional racers to earn a spot against the world�s best for a shot at the title of World Professional Champion. Additional National Open Qualifier registration information can be found at www.jeepsports.com.
While competitors can expect to encounter completely distinct terrain based on the layout of each host mountain, one constant in the Jeep King of the Mountain Series will be the event�s innovative Y-cross racecourse. The course, which delivers high-speed excitement, requires equal parts instinct, patience and nerve from its challengers. For the first part of the course, two challengers must navigate the dual features section consisting of single and double rollers. Once through this section, the two courses converge into a single course, forming the approximate shape of a Y. The second section features terrain characteristics of skier-cross racing, including banked turns, jumps, and tabletops. Athletes must be able to �work� the terrain features in order to generate extra speed, use techniques such as NASCAR-style drafting, and feel comfortable with another racer literally breathing down their neck.
About the Jeep King of the Mountain Series
The Jeep King of the Mountain was established in 1993. Jeep is the title sponsor for the Jeep King of the Mountain Series. The Professional Skiing & Snowboarding World Championships are the sister competition to summertime�s Jeep King of the Mountain World Professional Mountain Biking Championships. Other marketing partners include for the Jeep King of the Mountain include Columbia Sportswear Company, Edge ActiveCare, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Infinity Systems, Mopar, and Ski Press Magazine.
About Taos Ski Valley
Taos Ski Valley, legendary for its steep slopes and deep powder, is known as one of the world's most unique and picturesque ski resorts. Taos Ski Valley enjoys its tough reputation and many of its runs are rated expert�half of which are double-black diamonds�taunting skiers to rise up to meet Taos' challenge. Its remarkable natural beauty and bone dry powder in abundance stretches across 110 trails covering a total of 1,300 acres. With over 300 inches of snow annually, Taos� 12 ski lifts keep skiers on its stunning mountain terrain throughout its endlessly sunny days.