JEEP Brand to Sponsor 2006 U.S. Freeskiing Open

December 21, 2005

Boulder, CO—

SKIING

magazine announced today that Jeep® brand will be the title sponsor of the 2006 U.S. Freeskiing Open, the largest and most respected contest in freeskiing. Slated for January 19-21, 2006, the event will again return to host site Vail, Colorado. For additional details, please visit

www.usfreeskiingopen.com

.

Organizers also announced record setting payouts in each of the contest’s three disciplines, with a total event purse of $60,000. More than 350 of freeskiing’s top and up-and-coming athletes are slated to compete in Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air.

“Much like the athletes that make the Freeskiing Open so popular to action sports fans worldwide, Jeep vehicles are synonymous with action, adventure, mastery and freedom – making this event a perfect compliment to the Jeep brand, said Jay Kuhnie, vice president Jeep. “We are excited about our relationship with this great event and thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive reception Jeep vehicles have received with these amazing athletes and this mountain culture.”

Registration for Men’s Halfpipe and Slopestyle competitions took place on December 1, filling in less than 20 minutes, setting a record for the event. Women’s Superpipe and Slopestyle divisions have limited spaces available.

“We had such tremendous response from the athletes during registration that we decided to increase the number of spaces available,” said Luciano. “This year we nearly doubled the number of spots and the competition still filled in record time.”

In its ninth year, the 2006 Jeep U.S. Freeskiing Open will once again push the sport to new heights, serving as the premier showcase for fresco athletes and a forum for cutting-edge skills and tricks. The Jeep U.S. Freeskiing Open has served as a launch pad for countless new school skiers, including notable winners such as Tanner Hall and Michael Olenick.

“The Jeep U.S. Freeskiing Open is a marquee event in Vail and each season we anticipate its return to see what new heights the athletes have attained as the freeskiing movement only continues to dominate,” said Ian Arthur, vice president of marketing and sales for Vail Mountain. “January also is a great time to visit with incredible lodging packages available at www.vail.com.

EVENTS NOT TO MISS AT THE 2006 Jeep U.S. FREESKIING OPEN:

Friday, January 20, 2006
Noon- 2 p.m. Men’s Slopestyle Finals
2- 3:10 p.m. Men’s Slopestyle Finals

Saturday, January 21. 2006
2:15- 3 p.m. Men’s Superpipe Finals
3- 3:45 p.m. Women’s Superpipe Finals
5:45- 7 p.m. Big Air

** All events take place at Vail Resort’s Golden Peak base area.

For more information on the 2006 Jeep U.S. Freeskiing Open, including a detailed schedule and lodging options, please visit www.usfreeskiingopen.com.