Whistler/Blackcomb Turns Attention to TELUS Fest

WHISTLER, B.C. Feb. 18, 2003 (Release)–With Whistler’s winter season infull swing, the resort’s attention is already turning towards the seasonfinale—the annual TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival.

In its eighth year, the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival is set to shakeWhistler/Blackcomb ski resort at the end of the season with a stunning arrayof sports, music and visual arts events for ten action-packed days—April11-20.

With its well-established reputation as North America’s largest and mostimpressive annual snowsports and music celebration, the Festival will thisyear feature the very best in ski and snowboard events—complemented by the DKNY Jeans Live Outdoor Concert Series—a solid line-up of emerging talent, established rock stars and cutting edge musicians.

The third ingredient to this sensory explosion is the visual arts schedule that is highlighted this year by the prestigious Pro Photographer Search andShowdown, the expanding Filmmaker Showdown and an all-new Interactive Showdown.

This year’s showcase of sporting events includes the Garnier Fructis WorldSkiing Invitational featuring the spectacular Salomon Big Air andSalomon Superpipe events. Other major highlights include the Ripzone Snowboard Invitational, and the Saab Crossmax Series presented by Salomon—the world’s premiere Skier-X tour that culminates at the Festival with the North American Finals.

Other activities include the Kokanee Freeride club series, the legendaryWhistler Dog Parade and North America’s largest Super Demo Days. There’salso an Adventure Village for adrenaline seekers of all ages and a FamilyZone for kids of all ages.

“The continuing evolution of the Festival has ensured that the TELUS WorldSki and Snowboard Festival remains the premier season finale in NorthAmerica,” says the Festival’s managing director Doug Perry. “There’s nobetter resort to be at in the springtime for this calibre of snowsports andentertainment event.”

“The Festival draws out the leaders in sports, music and visual arts andintegrates it into one seamless package. It’s a 360 degree experience inexhilaration, adrenaline and entertainment,” Perry says.

2003 Festival Event Dates:

April 11-13 Ripzone Snowboard Invitational
April 11-20 DKNY Jeans Live Outdoor Concert Series, daily
April 11-20 Kokanee Freeride After Dark club series, nightly
April 12-13, 18-20 Super Demo Days—Ski and Snowboard demos
April 13 Kranked 5—World Film Premiere
April 14-15 Pro Photographer Search
April 16 Filmmaker Showdown
April 16-17 SAAB Crossmax Series presented by Salomon
April 17 Pro Photographer Showdown
April 18 Zero Ceiling & Whistler Photographic SocietySilent Auction
April 19-20 Garnier Fructis World Skiing Invitationalfeaturing the Salomon Big Air and Salomon Superpipe

The TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival is presented in partnership byWhistler/Blackcomb, Tourism Whistler, and W1. Designed eight years ago tocelebrate the end of the ski and snowboard season and showcase Whistler’sexcellent spring snow conditions, the Festival has exploded into anend-of-season bash like no other. For further information please visit theFestival website at www.livelarge.ca.