Friday, March 12, 1999, Quebec City - Ten of Canada's top snowboarders qualified today for the Finals of the ISF World Series Halfpipe event at Stoneham Mountain Resort, Quebec, part of the Kokanee Snowboard Canada Jam Tour, Canada's national snowboard tour. Mike Michalchuk of Calgary, ranked number 1 in the world, led the Canadian men qualifying 5th, and Natasza Zurek of Vancouver, ranked number 6 in the world, led the Canadian women qualifying 1st. Other top Canadian qualifiers were Sylvain Rheault of Chicoutimi, Quebec in 6th, Guillaume Morisset of Quebec City in 7th, Daniel Migneault of Chicoutimi in 9th, and Jonas Guinn of Calgary in 10th.

The ISF World Series at Stoneham is the only World Series event to take place in Canada this year and will be important in deciding the 1999 ISF World Tour title. Leading the elite field of the world's top snowboarders were Greg Wilson of the USA in Men's Halfpipe, followed closely by Austria's Max Ploetzeneder. The Halfpipe Finals will take place Saturday night under the lights at Stoneham Mountain.

Winner of a World Cup earlier this year, Guillaume Morisset is a local favourite for the Finals. "My runs were pretty good, but I have to do better in the Finals, so I'm saving my best for later," said Morisset. "I'm planning to go bigger and do more technical trick combinations."

In the Women's category, Canada's Natasza Zurek dominated all other competitors, finishing first with the best runs of the day. "I'm happy with my runs," said Zurek. "I hope to ride as well in the Finals as I did today." She was followed by Austria's Nici Pederozolli in second.

Today also marked the opening of the Motorola Boarder's Village, located at the base of Stoneham. Over a dozen snowboard companies offered free demoes of next year's snowboards, boots and bindings to excited riders. The Village is expected to be packed tomorrow, as the Quarterpipe Expression Session takes place. Snowboarders will take huge air off the fifteen-foot high launch, located in the middle of the Village, providing prime enertainment for everyone at Stoneham!

Tommorow's events will also include the pre-qualifier's for the Motorola World Series Super-G race, and the much anticipated night finals for the World Series Halfpipe.

For any additional information on the ISF World Series at Stoneham Mountain call the official Kokanee Snowboard Canada Jam Tour number at: 418-848-2000.