The North Face Masters of snowboarding kicks-off at Snowbird, UT

Epic snow conditions and $45,000 tour prize purse attract snowboarders from around the globe for the first stop on the only big mountain snowboarding tour in North America

Salt Lake City, Utah, January 20, 2009—The much-anticipated first stop on The North Face Masters of Snowboarding (TNF Masters) big mountain snowboarding tour arrives at Snowbird Mountain Resort, Utah, January 29-February 1, 2009. Big-name pros, along with up-and-comers from around the globe, will battle it out for the $15,000 prize purse on Snowbird’s impressive North Baldy amphitheatre finals venue. With one of the deepest snow packs in the country, Snowbird Mountain Resort is more than ready to host the world’s best big mountain snowboarders.

“Snowbird’s big mountain terrain gives both competitors and spectators a great venue for an event the caliber of The North Face Masters,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “We’re looking forward to seeing these talented athletes show off their skills on the best Snowbird has to offer.”

Last year’s TNF Masters Snowbird champions Clif Dimon and Susan Mol will have their work cut out for them as other big-name riders competing include TNF Masters 2008 tour winner Laura Dewey, Shannan Yates, Rachel

Sheidow, Jonathan Penfield, Korey Kaczmarek, Ralph Backstrom, and Ryland Bell. The men’s and women’s champions of TNF Masters at Snowbird will ride away from the podium with not only a respectable chunk of the tour’s $45,000 total cash purse, but also the opportunity to compete in the Nissan Tram Face at Squaw Valley, California.

“I am psyched to be competing at Snowbird again this year,” said Clif Dimon, 2008 TNF Masters Snowbird Champion, and overall 2008 TNF Masters Champion. “Last year’s event was incredible and with more snow this year riders are going to go bigger and faster. The North Face Masters tour is definitely picking up momentum and I expect to see some fresh talent emerge. Hopefully I can hold on to my title.”

TNF Masters gathers big mountain snowboarding tribes from all around the world. All male and female snowboarding competitors above age 18 are welcomed to participate.