PR: ISF Jr. World Snowboard Championships Land In Telluride April 5-10, 1999
January 27, 1999
Telluride, Colo.

TELLURIDE, Colo.(January 25, 1999)-In less than three months close to 300 competitors from around the world will arrive in Telluride to vie for the title of World Champion in three events - duel slalom, halfpipe and boardercross competitions. April 5-10, 1999 the International Snowboard Federation (ISF) Junior World Championships brings competitors age 14-19 together in scenic Telluride in Southwestern Colorado to end the season with top-notch competition and a unique gathering of snowboarding's rising stars.

"The Junior Worlds are a stepping stone to international rankings and the Worlds themselves," said Christian Savioz, chief executive officer of the ISF. "For anyone aspiring to serious international competition, they're an invaluable learning experience and Telluride is an outstanding venue." Hosted by the Telluride Ski & Golf Company (Telski), Telluride Visitor Services (TVS) and Telluride Resort Accommodations (TRA), this is the sixth ISF Junior World Championship and the first to be held in North America.

Last season's event was in Grindelwald, Switzerland and before that the competition was held in Finland, Japan, Poland and Slovenia. The ISF was founded in 1990. It is divided into four regions - North America, Europe (including Russia), Asia and South America , Australia and New Zealand - including 42 nations and over 70,000 members.

While it is too early to say who will be competing, all riders qualify through their own country's qualifying system and each country is entitled to send two men and two women in every discipline and age group. Additionally, each country may send one more man and woman as combined competitors, giving every country a maximum of 28 slots. The Junior age group is for 17- and 18-year-olds and Youth is for competitors age 16 and younger.

The event begins with registration and a welcome reception on Monday, April 5. April 6 has been set aside for training with opening ceremonies and a main street parade planned for 4:30 p.m. in the historic town of Telluride. Fireworks will follow at 7 p.m. Actual competition begins April 7 and runs through April 9 with halfpipe and boardercross competition on the first day, halfpipe and duel slalom on the second day and boardercross and duel slalom on the third day. At the end of the day on April 9, a closing party and main street dance will be held in Telluride. April 10 is a contingency day and April 11 the mountain hosts its annual closing day party.

Located in the Southwestern corner of Colorado, Telluride is an historic Victorian mining town settled in the late 1800s and surrounded by the highest concentration of 14,000-foot peaks in North America. A genuine Western town is linked to the new Mountain Village via a free gondola transportation system and the mountain features a 3,522-foot vertical drop, 65 trails, 1,050 acres and over 25 feet of Rocky Mountain powder annually.

Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank in Telluride's box canyon and today the mountain provides the perfect environment for skiers and snowboarders. The ISF Junior Worlds is the last event in Telluride's annual Surf the Rockies end-of-the-season celebration. Surf the Rockies features three major ski and snowboard competitions as well as a variety of fun, on-mountain events including a bikini slalom, main street dance, live concerts and much more.

The ISF Junior Worlds follow closely on the heels of the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) National Championships scheduled for March 26-April 1. This is the second year in a row that the USASA has held its National Championships in Telluride and the event brings over 800 riders from across the country to the region. For more information on the ISF event and lodging reservations call TRA, official property of the ISF Junior Worlds, at (800) 538-7754 or (970) 728-6621. For Surf the Rockies information and lodging call (800) 854-3062.

For more information on Telluride or the ISF Junior World Championships, visit Telski's website at www.telski.com. Information on media accreditation is also available on-line at www.telski.com.