December 30, 2000

Aspen/Snowmass Village, Colo. - Aspen/Snowmass is shifting into high gear in anticipation of the Swatch Boardercross� World Tour, one of the world's longest running and most exciting snowboard tours, kicking off at Aspen Colorado's Buttermilk Mountain on January 10-13, with a $100,000 cash prize purse.

"We are very excited to be bringing the Swatch Boardercross to Buttermilk after the many successes of last year's event at Snowmass", says Kevin Byford, Director of Snowboarding for Aspen/Snowmass. "The base of Buttermilk is perfect for spectators. As soon as you drive into the parking lot you'll be able to see the course finish and the festival village - everything is right there! And everyone in Aspen is really getting hyped for this event." Kevin also noted that Buttermilk's already made over a dozen thirty-foot piles of snow for the boardercross course.

The Boardercross World Tour, pioneered by Swatch, attracts a world wide following of top athletes. Over 14 nations will be represented in Aspen, and international snowboard stars attending include:

* Shaun Palmer (USA) - 1999 ISF Boardercross World Champion, three time X Games Champion.
* Catherine Poetzl (AUT) - 2000 ISF Boardercross World Champion
* Philippe Conte (FRA) - 2000 ISF Boardercross World Champion
* Marguerite Cossettini (AUS) - 1st place 2000 Swatch Boardercross World Tour, Aspen/Snowmass, CO.
* Drew Neilson (CAN) - 2000 X Games Boardercross Champion; 2000 Gravity Games Boardercross Champion; 1st place 2000 Swatch Boardercross World Tour Finals, Laax, Switzerland.
* Christoph Maierhofer (AUT) - 1st place 2000 YOZ Winter Opening, Soelden, Austria; 1st place 2000 Swatch Boardercross World Tour, Meribel, France
* Xavier Delerue (FRA) - 1st place 2000 YOZ Winter Opening, Soelden, Austria; 1st place 2000 US Open, Stratton.
* Nillard Pilavakis (USA) - 1999 Swatch Boardercross World Tour Champion.
* Maelle Ricker (CAN) - 1999 ISF Boardercross World Champion