SKI CROSS:

Blue Mountain amped for February's Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix

Jan. 9, 2011 — World Snowsports Events Group      Photo: Last year's Blue Mountain SX action

The Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix at Blue Mountain Resort — part of the FIS freestyle World Cup — is returning to Southern Ontario, bringing with it the “hottest” ski cross team on the planet, the Canadians.

Canadian ski racer Ashleigh McIvor — who won the hearts of Canadians when she made history by winning the first Olympic ski cross event last spring — is headlining a red-hot Canadian squad that  returns to Blue Mountain for the Feb. 10-11 event. McIvor’s teammates, including Kelsey Serwa, who picked her sixth career podium in San Candido, Italy, at the season-opening race, are considered the strongest team on the world circuit.

The 2011 Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix will be the first event to follow FIS Freestyle World Championships at Deer Valley, Utah.

“We have the hottest winter sport in Canada,” said Dave Ellis, director of sport for the Canadian ski cross team. “Last year’s event at Blue Mountain was a fantastic warm-up for the Olympics, and our team is more amped than ever to showcase what they’re made of at this year’s event.”

“Winning medals at this venue is an extremely important opportunity for us to give the sport the growth it needs for a solid foundation from which to develop the next generation of athletes, and engage future partners for the sport.”

Blue Mountain, a longtime supporter of snowsports events, is excited to host skiers from around the world for the event.

“Blue Mountain Resort is thrilled to host the Rockstar Grand Prix World Cup Ski Cross for the second time,” said Paul Pinchbeck, director of marketing at the resort. “Last year’s event drew support from thousands of onlookers who witnessed firsthand one of Canada’s newest and most exciting spectator events. Moving on to their Olympic debut, Canadians dominated. This year we look forward to welcoming the group back to the resort and invite you to show your pride and support for our Canadian athletes.”

The event organizers, headed by event co-chairs Chris Robinson and Mark Kristofic, have planned a spectacular event featuring a world-class ski cross track that will challenge the world’s best skiers.

“We will deliver a top-notch event that first and foremost challenges the athletes,” said Robinson, president of the World Snowsports Events Group. “Last year was an incredible event and we again look forward to both putting on a great show on the snow and expanding the reach of the event into the community and local schools.”

Part of the community involvement includes recruiting and training more than 200 volunteers from the area as well as touring local schools with Canadian Olympic athletes to promote active and healthy living.

The Rockstar Ski Cross Grand Prix will be broadcast live to more than 20 countries as well as streamed live on www.sportsnet.ca. Rogers Sportsnet will also broadcast in Canada in two one-hour shows on Feb. 19 (two repeats to be determined). Show times in each region can be found at www.tv.snowsportsculture.com.  S-Magazine