THE WORLD SKIING INVITATIONAL / AFP WORLD TOUR FINALS AND MONSTERENERGY SHRED SHOW RETURN TO THE WORLD SKI & SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL INWHISTLER, BC

WHISTLER, BC April 7, 2015 – The World Skiing Invitational (WSI) / Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) World Tour Finals and the Monster Energy Shred Show will both return to the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) this spring. As always, the events will draw the top ski and snowboard athletes from around the world to Whistler but spectators should take note, both events will see some major schedule changes for 2015.

“For the first time in three years we will have Men and Women’s Halfpipe as part of the WSI / AFP World Tour Finals,” says Sue Eckersley, Event Director for the World Ski & Snowboard Festival. “We are really excited to have all three ski disciplines back on the WSSF schedule for 2015. Other changes to note, the Gibbons Big Air (ski) has been relocated to the terrain park on Blackcomb Mountain due to the challenging snow conditions at lower elevations, which have prevented us from being able to host the Big Air in Skier’s Plaza as we usually do.”

The WSI / AFP World Tour Finals will take place on Blackcomb Mountain from April 10 to 12, with Slopestyle scheduled for April 10, the Gibbons Big Air on April 11 and the Halfpipe and Superhit events on April 12. More information, including a detailed schedule, event formats and the selection criteria is available at wssf.com/World-Skiing-Invitational.

With the Gibbons Big Air happening during Whistler Blackcomb’s operating hours, WSSF has introduced Gibbons Plazapalooza, a new event designed to bring the same energy and excitement people have come to love and expect in Skier’s Plaza on the first Saturday night of the festival. Gibbons Plazapalooza will take place between 8pm and 10pm and will include a replay of the Gibbons Big Air broadcast on the Main Stage big screens hosted by legendary emcee, Brad Jay, as well as dancing, fire spinners, a drum line and a DJ set from Mat The Alien. Plus, Neph and Swollen Members will perform in Skier’s Plaza leading up to Gibbons Plazapalooza beginning at 6pm.

The Monster Energy Shred Show will also see some schedule changes this year at WSSF. The Boarderstyle, which pits four riders against each other in a head-to-head boardercross-style race integrated with slopestyle terrain features, is scheduled for April 17 in the terrain park on Blackcomb Mountain. The event is open to anyone, with registration currently available online through to April 14. New this year, the Boarderstyle will see a separate Women’s category and there is $6,500 in total prize money to be won at the event. The Monster Energy Shred Show Invitational Slopestyle will take place on April 18, also in the Blackcomb terrain park.

The Monster Energy Shred Show will not include a Big Air event this year. Instead, Monster will be keeping the energy high in Skier’s Plaza on the second Saturday night of WSSF with a motocross show at the base of Whistler Mountain. There will also be free concerts from Jazz Cartier and YelaWolf on the Main Stage beginning at 7:30pm.

More information about the Monster Energy Shred Show, including a detailed scheduled and the list of confirmed athletes is available at wssf.com/The-Shred-Show.



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