Show Gelande Returns to Little Cottonwood Canyon After a year 20 Little Cottonwood Canyon hiatus Snowbird Ski Summer resort will host the North American Gelande Championships April 18 17 17 2004 The contest will feature feature feature fea fea- fea- fea ture professional and amateur ski jumpers soaring hundreds of feet using alpine ski equip equip- ment The competition gets under way Saturday April 17 with the seeding pro-seeding round and two rounds of amateur jumping lumping The final round or of the amateur contest and the pro competition tion take place Sunday April 18 An awards ceremony will follow the conclusion of Sundays Sunday's events The rich history of gelande in Little Cottonwood Canyon and the excitement for both competitors and spectators should make this a spectacular event said Snowbird President Bob Bonar The North American Gelande Championships are part of a month-long month series of weekend weekend weekend week week- end events taking place throughout April at Snowbird Other events include the Hidden to Snowbird Center giant slalom that is open to the public and all abilities abilities abilities abil abil- April 10 and a new Wacky Weekend April 25 24 featuring an snow on-snow mountain bike competition on terrain park features ski and snowboard demos and other zany events not yet solidified In addition to live music every Saturday and Sunday through April the theother theother theother other April weekends include include- the Snow Cup giant slalom Last Chance slalom and a USSA Masters race The gelande will be held on Lower Willows run in Peruvian Gulch which is visible from the Alta Bypass Road and trails within Snowbird There will be food drink and music in the spectator area Admission is free Snowbird joins five other major venues on the Pro Gelande Tour all of which are attended by the top jumpers in the country Speed skiers ski instructors ski patrollers professional racers and other experienced alpine skiers make up the ranks rank of gelande I r jumpers Gelande has its roots in Little Cottonwood Canyon The original gelande event was organized by Alf Engen at Alta as a celebration of spring in in 1963 popularity has soared since After years of competition at Alta the event moved to Upper at Snowbird in the early The sport has since exploded and competitions are now held on natural hills hilIs and specialized jumping hills throughout the West The North American Gelande Championships mark the die first time Snowbird has hosted a gelande event since 1984 For more information contact Dave Fields at or Laura Schaffer at Dave Fields Public Relations Director Snowbird Ski Summer Resort |