PR: American Professional Snowboard Series (APSS) Changes Name; Announces 1996-97 Tour Schedule
(October 7, 1996)

VAN NUYS, Calif. (October 7, 1996) -- The American Pro Snowboard Series (APSS), recognized as the country's premiere snowboard tour announced it will become the American Snowboard Tour (AST).

The tour will offer $155,000 in total prize money and visit five mountains beginning December 13-15 at Hunter Mountain, New York and conclude with the North American Championships at Mount Snow, Vermont March 14-16.

ESPN and ESPN2 will televise the tour from each event site this winter for a total of 5 hours of coverage. The AST will feature the halfpipe and giant slalom disciplines - the same disciplines which will be featured at the sport's debut in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan - as well as super G and dual slalom competitions.

The events will be open to all snowboarders, including riders from the International Ski Federation (FIS) and International Snowboard Federation (ISF). Competitors will be able to acquire AST ranking points for the season's overall titles and the Paul Mitchell $25,000 bonus pool.

The AST is owned and operated by CE Sports, Inc., the leader in lifestyle sports marketing and management.

DATE Fri, Dec 13 Sat, Dec 14 Sun, Dec 15 Fri, Jan 10 Sat, Jan 11 Sun, Jan 12 Fri, Feb 6 Sat, Feb 7 Sun, Feb 8 Fri, Feb 21 Sat, Feb 22 Sun, Feb 23 Fri, March 14 Sat, March 15 Sun, March 16

MOUNTAIN Hunter Mtn, N.Y. Hunter Mtn, N.Y. Hunter Mtn, N.Y. Kirkwood, CA Kirkwood, CA Kirkwood, CA Mammoth, CA. Mammoth, CA. June Mt., CA. Snow Summit, CA. Snow Summit, CA. Snow Summit, CA.   Mount Snow, VT. Mount Snow, VT. Mount Snow, VT.

DISCIPLINE Giant Slalom #1 Giant Slalom #2 Halfpipe Giant Slalom #1 Giant Slalom #2 Halfpipe Giant Slalom Dual Slalom Halfpipe Halfpipe #1 Halfpipe #2 Snowboard Boardercross Giant Slalom Super G Halfpipe

PRIZE MONEY Hunter Mt., N.Y. Purgatory, CO. Mammoth, CA. Snow Summit, CAf. Mount Snow, VT. Paul Mitchell Bonus Pool   Total

$25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $30,000 $25,000 $155,000