12.15.2006

RESORTQUEST BRECKENRIDGE WELCOMES THE CHEVROLET U.S. SNOWBOARD GRAND PRIX TO BRECKENRIDGE SKI RESORT.



ResortQuest Breckenridge is proud to welcome the annual Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix and Olympic medalists Gretchen Bleiler (silver '06; Aspen, CO), Lindsey Jacobellis (silver '06; Stratton Mountain, VT), Kelly Clark (gold '02; Mount Snow, VT), Ross Powers (gold '02; Stratton Mountain, VT), Danny Kass (silver '02, '06; Mammoth Lakes, CA) and JJ Thomas (bronze '02; Golden, CO) to Breckenridge. The town of Breckenridge, CO is known for world-class snowboarding terrain, legendary nightlife and an endless supply of winter adventure.


Breckenridge, Colorado – December 15, 2006 – For the third consecutive year, the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix opens at Breckenridge Resort, once again voted the best halfpipe in North America by readers of Transworld Snowboarding Magazine. ResortQuest Breckenridge Vacation Rentals is excited to welcome these world-class athletes and provides over 350 vacation rentals in Breckenridge, just moments from the Peak 8, where the event is to be held.

Expected to compete are six Olympic medalists including Gretchen Bleiler (silver '06; Aspen, CO), Lindsey Jacobellis (silver '06; Stratton Mountain, VT), Kelly Clark (gold '02; Mount Snow, VT), Ross Powers (gold '02; Stratton Mountain, VT), Danny Kass (silver '02, '06; Mammoth Lakes, CA) and JJ Thomas (bronze '02; Golden, CO).

"Breckenridge is one of the most challenging contests of the year because the Grand Prix draws the best riders in the world. In the past couple of years, it's been pretty windy here and that has also made it tough, but it's been beautiful all week and the pipe is super consistent. They do such a great job dialing this pipe and I always look forward to this contest," said Bleiler, the reigning Grand Prix champion.

ResortQuest Breckenridge Lodging has been witness as snowboarding history has been written and rewritten at Breckenridge. The resort was one of the first in North America to allow snowboarding in 1985, then one year later, hosted the first world championships. ResortQuest Breckenridge has been providing quality vacation rentals in Breckenridge since 1996.

In its fifth year at Breckenridge, the Grand Prix added to that history last season when Luke Mitrani (Mammoth Lakes, CA) boosted a 31-foot air out of a quarterpipe via snowmobile tow-in during the Paul Mitchell Progression Session. Riders will have a chance to topple the mark this Saturday night as another monstrous quarterpipe is constructed in downtown Breckenridge. The event also serves as the only North American qualifier for The Arctic Challenge, hosted by snowboarding legend Terje Haakonsen in Norway.

"To be able to team up with The Arctic Challenge and Oakley is huge for U.S. Snowboarding and the Grand Prix," said Jeremy Forster, U.S. Snowboarding program director. "It validates that we are putting on some of the highest level contests that focus on providing the riders the best venues and overall contest experience. Partnering with TAC along with Mountain Creek being a 5-star TTR (Ticket to Ride) event this season continues to raise the level of the Grand Prix series."

Grand Prix venue designer Pat Malendoski of Planet Snow Designs will again build the feature in downtown Breckenridge located in the Miners Parking Lot right in the middle of downtown Breckenridge. All the snow for the event has been trucked in and the quarterpipe is once again anticipated to be right about 30-feet high. Plus in keeping with the Grand Prix tradition of combining entertainment with the world's best snowboarding competition, DJ Roots and DJ Vajra will perform live during and after the downtown exhibition.

"There are two elements that must be in place to make this year's TAC event a true success: First, the perfect arena and second, the ultimate rider list. By partnering with an exclusive group of events as the Grand Prix in Breckenridge, we know we're getting the best riders out there." Henning Andersen, CEO of TAC said.

ResortQuest Breckenridge Vacation Rentals offers a complete selection of vacation rentals and lodging package in Breckenridge and Keystone, just steps from all the adventure the mountain resorts have to offer. Guests can choose from deluxe hotel suites, 1-4 bedroom condominium and luxurious private homes in ski-in/ski-out or downtown locations. For more information on ResortQuest Breckenridge and their wide selection of vacation rentals, visit www.resortquestbreckenridge.com

For a limited time, ResortQuest Breckenridge Lodging is offering Lift and Lodging packages starting at just $124 a night. Guests can choose from deluxe hotel suites, 1-4 bedroom condominium and luxurious private homes in ski-in/ski-out or downtown locations. For more information on ResortQuest Breckenridge Vacation Rentals and their wide selection of vacation rentals, visit www.resortquestbreckenridge.com/freeride
ResortQuest, one of the nation’s leading vacation rental hospitality and resort real estate companies, provides a one-stop resource in North America’s premier resort destinations www.resortquest.com).

ResortQuest is the largest marketer and management company of vacation condominiums and home rentals in the U.S. and Canada, based on a portfolio of nearly 17,000 vacation rental properties with a combined real estate value estimated at approximately $7 billion. ResortQuest Real Estate is one of the nation’s leading real estate companies focusing exclusively on resort properties, offering superior brokerage services in the country’s premier beach, ski and golf destinations. ResortQuest employs more than 4,000 people and is owned and operated by Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE: GET), one of the largest and fastest growing companies in the hospitality and entertainment industries, based in Nashville, Tenn., that also owns and operates Gaylord Hotels and the Grand Ole Opry. For more information, visit www.resortquest.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are there any pictures of Luke Mitrani's huge air? 31 feet...that's pretty gnarly.

BreckGirl said...

I think the Breck website might have some - there's a really cool picture of last year's event on their myspace profile. I'll see if I can hunt some down.
cheers-

BreckGirl said...

CONGRATS TO BRECK TEAM RIDERS WHO KILLED IT THIS WEEKEND AT THE GRAND PRIX. STEVE FISHER WON THE QP FOR MEN, TORI KOSKI CAME IN 3RD PLACE IN THE QP FOR THE WOMEN. JJ THOMAS & FISHER CAME IN 5TH AND 7TH RESPECTIVELY IN THE PIPE, AND CHAD OTTERSTROM KEPT US ENTERTAINED WITH SWEET TRICKS AND AN EVEN SWEETER JACKET THROUGHOUT. CONGRATS ALSO TO TEAM RIDERS LESLIE GLENN, ZACK AND JAKE BLACK AND MIKE CAMPBELL WHO ALL THREW DOWN IN THE PIPE. IF YOU MISSED IT, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!