February 27, 2002

YOUNG GUNS DOMINATE BIG AIR, SLOPESTYLE AT SIMS WORLD SNOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mission Viejo, CA (February 25, 2002) - Rookie of the Year, Hana Beaman, proved to the global snowboarding community that she has officially arrived on the women's professional snowboarding scene by dominating the Sims World Snowboarding Championships this past weekend, February 20-24, 2002, in Vail, Colorado. With a smooth yet aggressive riding style, 19-year-old Beaman out-performed many of the top female riders in the world to claim first place honors in both the Big Air and Slopestyle events. "Winning two events at this contest was... surreal," stated the appreciative and pleasantly surprised Beaman. "It might take a week or two to hit me."

Beaman's double victory, marked by huge airs and progressive tricks, confirmed that she is a very well rounded snowboarder that is truly a force to be reckoned with in the competitive ranks. Beaman will attempt to keep her winning streak alive at next month's 20th Annual U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships at Stratton Mountain, Vermont - March 14-17, 2002. With Slopestyle added to this year's U.S. Open event schedule, it looks like she will have a very good chance of claiming another top spot on the winner's podium. But first, Beaman will travel to Japan for a 10-day snowboarding tour that will include a stop at the Xbox Slopestyle contest.

In related news, Australian up-and-comer Torah Bright placed 2nd behind Beaman in the women's Big Air event at the Sims World Snowboarding Championships. At only 15 years of age, Bright has been tearing up the competitive snowboarding scene this season, frequently placing above many of the sport's best. Her success this season is confirmation that she is much more than just a pretty face as her top-notch skills and deep bag of tricks definitely make her one to watch out for this year, and for many years to come. Bright will join Beaman at the 2002 U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, where she will battle it out on Stratton's hallowed slopes in the hopes of taking home a championship crown.

The future of women's snowboarding has arrived, and amazingly, both Beaman and Bright are just getting started!