PHOTOGRAPHY: Kristie Buckley
Silver Star Celebrates 10th Annual Slopestyle Event
Ski resort offers exciting events as time runs out on 2014-15 winter season
March 21, 2015 – VERNON, B.C. Silver Star Mountain Resort celebrates the 10th Annual Showdown Throwdown Hoedown slopestyle event. From March 27 – 29, the Showdown is a fully sanctioned “Silver Level” competition through the Association of Freestyle Professionals (AFP) and the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association (CFSA). The event is held in the resort’s terrain park and is also part of the Canadian Open Tour.
Competitors will not only be competing for cash and great prizes, but they will also be earning points in the world rankings Open Pro and Open Amateur – ski and snowboard categories. Some big cash prizes are available for Open categories, with some outstanding swag available for Amateur categories. Entry costs $135 for Pro/Open competitors and $75 for amateurs and competitors are encouraged to register early.
“It’s been a challenging year for snow but we’ve managed to be creative, like harvesting piles of snow from various locations. We’ve been rather resourceful and have a few other tricks up our sleeve” smiles Dave Palm, Silver Star’s grooming manager. “We’re celebrating a decade of this fun spectator event which started out as a grass-roots competition so we’re making sure it happens.” continued Palm.
The annual event combines with other popular spring events including the Spring Loaded Telemark Festival March 27-29 where all abilities are invited to ski and socialize with the local Telemark community and meet racers and skiers from around the world. And from March 30 – April, Silver Star hosts the Canadian Junior Nationals which includes various disciplines such as moguls, dual moguls, slopestyle, big air and aerials.
“Spring skiing is an exciting tradition with heaps of events that many look forward to every March and April,” said Anne Haight, director of sales and marketing at Silver Star Mountain Resort. “Unlike during the regular season, there is really no urgency for first chair and first tracks, but rather, the focus becomes sporting a typical goggle tan and socializing with friends and family.”
Silver Star closes its alpine terrain on April 6 this year. For its last weekend (April 4-6), the resort will be celebrating spring skiing with a Retro Day on April 4th where guests are invited to dust off their old school ski outfits for a fashionable day on the slopes. A fashion show at 3pm will give retro spring skiing enthusiasts the opportunity to strut their stuff on the runway. April 5th is Hawaiian Shirt Day and all season pass holders are invited to attend a free barbecue hosted by Silver Star’s managers. On April 6th enjoy a bonus day and the last tracks of the 2014-15 winter season.
Haight continues, “Closing weekend is always a big party. This is the chance to gather your craziest and loudest shirt, splash on the sun screen, and soak up the rays for one last time. We encourage everyone to come up and enjoy the mountain and celebrate another exciting winter season up here at the Star!”
