SHERMAN OAKS, CA -- The Paul Mitchell American Snowboard Tour, (AST) will begin it's seventh year of competition at Snowmass Resort January 22-24. The AST is the nations longest running professional and amateur snowboard tour and will once again feature the world's top snowboarders including members of the U.S. and Canadian Olympic teams.

Presented by JanSport backpacks, the Paul Mitchell AST at Snowmass will feature Giant Slalom competition on Friday, January 22, Boardercross on Saturday, January 23 and Half-pipe competition on Sunday, February 24. All contests start at 10:00 am each day.

Ross Powers, the Bronze medalist from the Olympic winter games in Nagano, Japan will head a world class list of competitors in the men's half- pipe competition. Currently ranked #1 in the world by the FIS with 1st and 2nd place finishes in World Cup competitions and another win at the US Grand Prix this season, Powers is clearly the world's top half-pipe rider and will look to defend his opening AST event win from last season. Other top men's riders include Kier Dillon, Rob Kingwell and Tommy Czeshin. more

Heading the women's field will be 2-time defending Paul Mitchell Riders Cup champion Tricia Byrnes. Byrnes has established herself and the world's top women's half-pipe rider with two World Cup wins and a third place finish at the US Grand Prix this season.

The world's top giant slalom snowboard racers will also be on hand including top Canadians Mark Fawcett and Jasey Jay Anderson. Fawcett has already recorded World Cup and Vans Triple Crown Giant Slalom wins this season. US Team member Lisa Kosglow will return to defend her Paul Mitchell Riders Cup title along with teammates Sondra Von Ert, Lynn Ott and Stacia Hookom.

The AST will continue its multi-year agreement with Fox Sports Net for the broadcast of 10, 30-minute shows per season through 2000. Each show will be broadcast to more than 60 million homes on Saturdays as part of Fox Sports Nets' "Snowzone" winter block programming. The Paul Mitchell American Snowboard Tour events from Snowmass will air on Fox Sports Net affiliates in three separate 30 minute shows. The men's half-pipe competition will air Saturday, February 6 at 12 noon, the women's half-pipe competition will air Saturday, February 13 at 12 noon and the men's and women's boardercross competition will air Saturday, February 20 at 12 noon.

Up to the minute coverage of all Paul Mitchell AST events will be available on the internet at www.snowboarding-online.com. Results, real audio interveiws with riders and photos from each days action will be available. more

Once again, the AST will be open to all professional and amateur competitors including ISF and FIS riders. The AST will continue its relationship with U.S. Skiing and Snowboarding and award the highest level of FIS points of any continental competition. The AST has also arranged for the awarding of ISF points from each event, giving riders the choice of which sanctioning organization of where to apply their results.

Ford Trucks will take over the "Rider's Cup" sponsorship and award an additional $15,000 to top rider's from freestyle and alpine disciplines based on overall finish from the three AST competitions.

Other American Snowboard Tour sponsors include Naya Spring Water, Joyride Snowboards, Northwave snowboard boots, Laguna Footwear, Drake bindings and Moonstone Mountain Equipment.

The Paul Mitchell will continue at Northstar at Tahoe, CA on January 29 & 30 and finish with the Paul Mitchell North American Championships at Bear Mountain, CA on February 19-21. The AST will offer Giant Slalom and Half- pipe competition at each event, as well as Boardercross at Bear Mountain. For additional information or registration materials, contact Craig Elledge at CE Sports, Inc. at (818) 789-2450, or Tom Winter at (520) 750-0500.