Deep Snow, Progressive Snowboarding and Lots of Pampering Highlighted the 2nd Annual CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational
Kelly Clark, Gretchen Bleiler and Ellery Hollingsworth Top Superpipe Podium
Aspen/Snowmass, Colo.., April 6, 2009 – Kelly Clark took home a prize purse of $10,000 for winning the second annual COVERGIRL Snow Angels Invitational this Sunday, April 5 for beating out nearly 15 of the world’s best women snowboarders in the Snowmass superpipe.
A foot of snow fell on Snowmass Saturday, April 4, the day of the scheduled superpipe competition. When the competition was postponed until Sunday, Aspen/Snowmass Athlete Gretchen Bleiler took the athletes freeriding around Snowmass in all the fresh powder.
The competition resumed on Sunday, April 5, with perfect conditions thanks to the tireless efforts from Frank Wells of Snow Park Technologies (SPT) and the Snowmass terrain park crew.
The final results are as follows:
1st – Kelly Clark – $10,000
2nd – Gretchen Bleiler – $4,500
3rd – Ellery Hollingsworth – $2,000
4th – Linn Haug – $1,000
5th – Kaitlyn Farrington – $500
Best Trick – Maddy Schaffrick with a switch backside 720
Highest Air – Kelly Clark
Most Progressive Riding – Maddy Schaffrick with a switch backside 720 combo with backside 900
The best trick, highest air and most progressive riding champions all received $150 in cash plus a massage and a facial from Full Circle Massage. All athletes who competed received a portion of the $20,000 prize purse. The progressive competition was an hour and fifteen minute long jam session with individual superpipe runs, unique runs with two riders and one hit practice sessions.
“Everything came together with the weather and conditions and I’m really happy about how the contest went,” says Gretchen Bleiler. “The whole weekend has been amazing and we are so lucky to come together for such a unique and progressive event.”
The COVERGIRL Snow Angels Invitational was much more than a superpipe competition. The weekend featured spa activities, yoga, environmental workshops and an Oakley Girls’ Night Out at the Belly Up.
The athletes worked with Nike’s yoga instructor Margot Kellison in three different classes, learning poses and tips to improve their snowboarding.
The Snow Angels also spent time throughout the weekend with Raj Shukla of the Climate Project and John Steelman of the Natural Resources Defense Council discussing the environment, recording public service announcements and working on organizing as a group to do everything they can to stop the effects of global warming.
In addition, after makeovers by COVERGIRL on Saturday night, the athletes received the red carpet treatment at the Girls’ Night Out hosted by Oakley at the Belly Up in Aspen, Colo. Pretty Lights, from Fort Collins, Colo. played their electronic beats for a sold out crowd.
The world’s best snowboarders were in attendance, including Gretchen Bleiler, Kelly Clark, Tricia Byrnes, Clair Bidez, Ellery Hollingsworth, Anne-Sophie Pellissier, Meg Pugh, Lizzy Beerman, Soko Yamaoka, Kaitlyn Farrington, Maddy Schaffrick, Paulina Ligocka, Molly Aguirre, Sophie Rodiguez and Linn Haug.
Aspen/Snowmass would like to thank their event partners COVERGIRL, Oakley, Herbal Essences, K2 Snowboarding, Vitamin Water, Town of Snowmass Village, Giro, Fuel TV, Nike, The Villas at Snowmass Club and Snowmass Club. In addition, a special thanks to the WIN Institute, Full Circle Massage, Mission Skincare, Dr. Hauschka, The Sweet Life, Rubber Duck Boots, Related WestPac, Sneaky’s Tavern, Helen Ficalora and Power Push-up.
The third annual COVERGIRL Snow Angels Invitational will be held during the 2009-2010 winter season. Look for event details to be announced soon.
For more information on anything Aspen/Snowmass related, please call 1-800-525-6200 or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.aspensnowmass.com/” \o “http://www.aspensnowmass.com/” www.aspensnowmass.com.
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Aspen Skiing Company operates the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area – Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk – as well as the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass. The area offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (EGE) (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen Skiing Company, please call 800-525-6200 or 970-925-1220, or visit the company’s website at HYPERLINK “http://www.aspensnowmass.com/” \o “http://www.aspensnowmass.com/” www.aspensnowmass.com.