SkiStar Åre: Decisive World Cup event in Åre, 12-13 March

After the completion of the Olympic Winter Games and the scheduled races in Japan, the world’s leading moguls skiers are on their way to Åre - for the third consecutive year the venue of Freestyle FIS World Cup competitions. Jesper Björnlund, the most successful Swedish racer is currently in second place in the overall standings before the interesting events this coming weekend.

The Freestyle discipline ‘Moguls’ is an action-packed jury-scored sport where the optimal skiing techniques, high speeds and aerial acrobatics are performed under the toughest conditions possible.

- Those who have not yet experienced a live moguls event are strongly recommended to be on site in Åre. The high aerials paced to the beat of the music and the superb technique of the athletes is sheer delight to watch from the ringside, says Tomas Carlqvist, Team Sweden Freestyle coach.

The event arena is laid out in central Åre in the ‘Slalombacken’ piste. The course is 210 metres long, 22 metres wide with a gradient of 26.5 degrees. The athletes shall complete as fast and technically flawless runs as possible, while adding two different aerials on the way down.

- The crew of 87 volunteers has designed a welcoming arena in superb condition providing for fair competitions. I know that the athletes and coaches as well as the International Ski Federation tend to be satisfied with what we can offer here in Åre. The fact that the north of Sweden currently has winter sports holidays also warrants many spectators, says Anders “Mascot” Olofsson, World Cup Manager.

Competition programme:

Friday 12 March

Ladies qualifications: 09.00

Ladies final: 13.30

Men qualifications: 11.15

Men final: 14.00

Prize-giving ceremonies: 14.40

Saturday 13 March

Ladies dual moguls qualifications: 09.00

Ladies dual moguls final: 13.30

Men dual moguls qualifications: 11.15

Men dual moguls final: 14.00

Prize-giving ceremonies: 14.40

Photos for free publishing:

http://photos.skidor.com/login.asp

’Användarnamn’: Freestyle08

’Lösenord’: freestyle

Also see www.worldcupare.se

SVT will be broadcasting the event live on Friday at 13.55-15.00 and on Saturday at 14.45-15.45.

Press contact:

Karin S Halvarsson

E-mail: karin.stolt@zonline.se

+46 (0)76 828 2007

Media accreditation:

Linda Wasell

E-mail: linda.wasell@skistar.com

+46 (0)70 395 62 71

Team Sweden Freestyle media contact:

Ulrika Svensson

E-mail: ulrika.svensson@skidor.com

+46 (0)70 681 2005