Nine Members of The Breckenridge Freeride Team Confirmed to Compete in Winter X Games 13
Breckenridge, Colo. – January 21, 2009 -Breckenridge is pleased to announce that nine of their hometown athletes are confirmed to compete for gold at Winter X Games 13. Two additional Breckenridge athletes are waiting in the wings on the alternate list, with the potential to move to the confirmed list later this week.
Steve Fisher: A long time Breckenridge local, Fisher is a two time X Games Superpipe Champion 2004 & 2007, where he placed above Shaun White. He is a four time World Cup Superpipe Champion 2004-2007. Steve is also a two time Grand Prix Superpipe Champion in 2003 and 2007. Fisher will be competing in the X Games Men’s Snowboard Superpipe competition.
JJ Thomas: Thomas took home the bronze medal in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, is and X-Games gold medalist in pipe, took first place in the 2002 Chevrolet Grand Prix Halfpipe event in Breckenridge and first in the 2005 Icer Air competition. Thomas will be competing in the X Games Men’s Snowboard Superpipe competition.
Colby West: Recentlyexploding onto the freeskiing scene, West is now a double threat is Superpipe and Slopestyle, taking home the bronze medal in Superpipe at the 2008 X Games, and fourth in the X Games Slopestyle that same year. Other impressive results include a first place finish in the 2008 US Open Big Air Competition, a bronze medal in the 2007 X Games Slopestyle, and a bronze in the 2007 US Open Superpipe. West will be competing in the X Games Men’s Ski Slopestyle and Superpipe competitions.
Tanner Rainville:Known for his style in the air, and remarkable skills both inside and outside of the terrain park, Rainville’s accomplishments include the bronze medal at the 2008 North American Open Slopestyle, eight place at the 2008 X Games Slopestyle, first place at the Tignes Airwaves Big Air 2007, and second place at the WSI Big Air 2007. Rainville will be competing in the X Games Men’s Ski Slopestyle competition.
Keri Herman: Winning almost every competition she enters, Keri’s gold medals in the 07-08 Season included the Aspen Open Slopestyle Competition, the North American Open Slopestyle, the Mt Snow Vermont Open Slopestyle, the New Zealand Open Slopestyle, Cardrona Games Slopestyle, New Zealand Open Downtown Rail Jam and the Cardrona Games Big Air, Day 1 and 2, and that was all just last year! Herman will be competing in the X Games Women’s Ski Slopestyle Competition.
Angeli VanLaanen: Known for amplitude in the halfpipe that rivals that of the boys, and style to go with it, Angeli’s results include second Place at the 2008 North American Open Superpipe, first place at the 2007 New Zealand Open Superpipe, second place at the 2007 New Zealand Open Slopestyle, and third Place at the 2007 US Open Superpipe. VanLaanen will be competing in the X Games Women’s Ski Superpipe Competition.
Duncan Adams: At just 16 yrs old, Duncan has already established an impressive professional skiing career for himself. This year, he has been impressing judges at the Dew Tour, taking home a bronze medal at the Breckenridge stop and placing sixth in Mt. Snow. In 2008, he placed sixth at the 48 Straight Pipe Competition and eight at the North American Open. Adams will be competing in the X Games Men’s Ski Superpipe Competition.
Chanelle Sladics: A triple threat in snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding, Sladics most recently took home the bronze medal at the second stop of the Dew Tour. Sladics won the bronze medal in the 2007 X Games Slopestyle competition, placed second in the 2008 Roxy Chicken Jam Slopestyle, and third in the 2008 Vans Cup Slopestyle Competition, as well as podium finishes in numerous other events. Sladics will be competing in the X Games Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle competition.
Leslie Glenn: A regular to the competition circuit, Glenn placed third at the 2008 Honda Session, first in the 2008 Aspen Open Superpipe event, second at the 2006 & 2007 Aspen Open Superpipe, fifth in the Grand Prix Superpipe, and seventh in the 2006 World Superpipe Championships along with several other top ten finishes. Glenn will be competing in the X Games Women’s Snowboard Superpipe Competition.
Two Additional Breck Athletes on the Alternate List:
Bobby Brown: At just 17 years old, Bobby has transformed from local hero to fully sponsored pro in less than a year. Brown took home gold at the first stop of the Dew Tour in Breckenridge and placed seventh on the second stop. His 2008 accomplishments include first place in the Big Bear Open Slopestyle, fourth place at the North American Open Slopestyle, sixth place at the Aspen Open Slopestyle and has been featured in major industry publications. Brown is an alternate for the X Games Men’s Ski Slopestyle competition.
Matt Philippi: A strong competitor in the pipe, Philippi has placed first in the Aspen Open Superpipe in 2006 & 2007, second in the 2007 US Open Superpipe and fourth place in the 2007 Honda Ski. Philippi is an alternate for the X Games Men’s Ski Superpipe Competition.
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About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading of mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties at the Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, the Heavenly Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.