Black Diamond +2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour

Black Diamond Equipment, a leading global climbing and freeride ski brand, announced its sponsorship for the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour in 2011.

“Our passion for freeride skiing is the driver of the Black Diamond Equipment line of Power Series skis,” explains TJ Kolanko, Black Diamond’s Grassroots Marketing Coordinator. "From our quiver of high-energy, all-mountain skis to our ambassadors like Callum Pettit, Drew Stoecklein, Jacqui Edgerly and Angel Collinson, we share the same stoke as the organizers of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour, Mountain Sports International. We view this partnership as an avenue to salute the athletes and celebrate the energy behind this ever growing segment of the sport of skiing.”

The Subaru Freeskiing World Tour is the largest and longest running competitive big mountain freeskiing tour in the history of the sport with an unprecedented seven stops. Founded in 1997, the FWT, created and produced by Mountain Sports International, Inc., is heading into its 14th year with alumni including Shane McConkey, Brant Moles, Kent Kreitler, Chris Davenport, Seth Morrison, Dean Cummings, Dave Swanwick, Wendy Fisher, Ingrid Backstrom, Dana Flahr, Kaj Zackrison, Karina Hollekim, Marja Persson, Julien Lopez, Chopo Diaz, Griffin Post, Drew Stoecklein, Crystal Wright and Hannah Whitney. In addition to up to $110,000 in winnings, the world tour champions are awarded the McConkey Cup, honoring legendary skier Shane McConkey, founder of the IFSA. The FWT also features the coveted Sickbird Award, which honors the athlete with the most spirit, style and wow-factor.

“As a top manufacturer of freeride skis and boots and a brand with its culture based in the mountains, Black Diamond is a perfect fit as a partner of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour,” says Bryan Barlow, the event director for the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour. “We are very excited to have Black Diamond on board so that we can help spearhead the freeskiing movement together.”

The 2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour kicks off its North American stops this week in Revelstoke, BC, with the Canadian Freeskiing Championships, January 5-10. In the US, the tour begins at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort with the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier on January 27-30, 2011. The tour stop at Jackson Hole will serve as a qualifying event for top skiers who are not already qualified for the World Tour. After Jackson Hole, WY, the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour continues on to Crested Butte, CO for the 16th Annual Subaru U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships on February 17-21, 2011. The tour then heads west to Kirkwood, CA for the Subaru North America Freeskiing Championships on February 23-27, 2011. The final stop will find the world’s best skiers competing at the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Championships in Snowbird, UT on March 8-13.