ALYESKA RESORT OPENS UP BIG MOUNTAIN LINES AND HOSTS THE FIRST ANNUAL CHUGACH OPEN FOR ALL DISCIPLINES IN MARCH

Alyeska Resort is introducing a grassroots competition focused on showcasing its signature steep lines and natural beauty of the Chugach Mountain Range. The newly formulated Chugach Open is scheduled for March 17 to 20, 2011 and includes three days of competition. The competition is open to Alpine, snowboard and Telemark athletes and is offering a cash purse of over $10,000.

The Chugach Open is the inaugural competition embracing multiple disciplines. This high-level competition showcases Alyeska’s challenging double black diamond terrain with features such as steep cliffs, chutes and 2,500 feet of vertical, creating a venue that will test the abilities of the most experienced freeriders.

Alyeska Resort is well-established as a big mountain competition venue. The resort hosted the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships and Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Finals in April 2009. Produced by event promoter Mountain Sports International, the 2009 series included five other resort venues and featured Alyeska as the culminating finale. More recently, Alyeska partnered with Tough Guy Productions to host the 2009 World Telemark Freeskiing Championships and 2010 Alyeska World Comp, which opened the competition to all disciplines.

The logistics and high costs of partnering with national level event promoters created insurmountable challenges, and the resort’s mountain operations team sought out alternatives ways to be able to host a big mountain event. The Chugach Open was born with a desire to maintain a smaller scale, more grassroots effort.

 “Our goal is to create a free spirit, welcoming all disciplines, at the Chugach Open,” says Di Hiibner, ski area general manager. “Our plan is to open up in-bounds terrain that is indicative of the big heli-lines in the Chugach Mountains. Alyeska has so many fantastic big mountain faces perfect for top athletes to test their sheer will, creativity and talent.”

The Chugach Open will be judged by a panel of experts and athletes will be evaluated on line choice, fluidity, control and aggressiveness. The resort hopes to continue to draw top-level talent among snowboarders, Alpine and Telemark skiers locally and from the national circuit. The timing of Alyeska’s competition complements the late spring freeride festival events and competitions held in Valdez, Alaska. Tailgate Alaska World Freeride Festival, which includes the extreme King of the Hill snowboard contest, is scheduled for March 25 to April 10, 2011. In the same time frame, the World Extreme Skiing Championships (WESC) returns after a ten-year hiatus and is scheduled for March 25 to April 3, 2011.

During the weekend of Alyeska’s Chugach Open, legendary musician Peter Rowan and his band, the Mexican Airforce, are scheduled to play three nights at the Sitzmark Bar & Grill. The shows, March 17, 18 and 19, start at 10:00 P.M. with doors opening at 9:00 P.M. Tickets are $20 in advanced and $30 day of show, and can be purchased online, at any Alyeska Ticket Office and over the phone at 907-754-2275. To register for the Chugach Open and to learn more about the activities throughout the competition weekend, please visit www.AlyeskaResort.com.