Montreal, March 11, 2009 – On April 3rd and 4th, Mont Saint-Sauveur will welcome some of the world’s top riders for the 8th annual RIDE Shakedown, the most important snowboarding event in the country. New key features this year will include a new women’s category sponsored by Oakley, the launch of a $35,000 purse, Canada’s largest, and the creation of the spectacular, ground-breaking AMP Energy rail. A quick reminder that this year’s competition has been renamed in honour of the event’s new title sponsor, RIDE Snowboards.
Capitalizing on its increasing popularity, the Shakedown is pursuing its growth in 2009 and, as such, has introduced major changes, such as the development of its infrastructures, the creation of a women’s category and the launch of a new collection of exclusive clothing and accessories, now available online at http://shop.shakedown.ca
The Shakedown in the U.S. in 2010?
“The RIDE Shakedown is looking to gain a foothold in the United States as early as next year,” explained Patryck Bernier, co-founder of Dizzle Entertainment Inc. and organizer of the RIDE Shakedown. “Our goal here is not to leave behind the Quebec market, but rather to take advantage of our event’s international reputation and unique format, so that over the long term we can build a network that will help us organize an international contest series. With only two years to go before our 10th anniversary, we will pull out all the efforts to outdo ourselves in all respects. The Shakedown is a snowboarding event whose vision deftly combines the aspirations of athletes with those of spectators. We will invest as much energy as needed to ensure that this vision becomes a reality.”
Of pros and fans
The RIDE Shakedown is eagerly awaited by professionals – who hope to be invited – and the up-and-coming riders vying for one of the 80 amateur spots and their chance to tackle the pros. Add to this some 20,000 exhilarated fans cheering on their idols during the two-day competition, and it is easy to understand why the Shakedown is Mont Saint-Sauveur’s top event of the year.
The athletes
Among the many world-class professional snowboarders invited to the RIDE Shakedown this year will be Darrell Mathes and Bode Merrill (USA), well known in the industry and featured in many movies, magazines and competitions; Dustin Craven (Alberta, Canada), winner of Shakedown 2007; Alex Cantin (Quebec City, QC), member of RIDE Snowboards Rookie Pro team; Charles Reid (Mont-Tremblant, Quebec), title winner of Shakedown 2008; and Sébastien Toutant (L’Assomption, Quebec), champion of Shakedown 2006, when he was just 13 years old and an amateur.
Competing in the women’s category will be Marie-France Roy (Éboulements, Quebec), a Quebec athlete of the Oakley team considered to be among the world’s leading snowboarders (slopestyle). At 24, she is currently travelling the world, participating in the X Games and scooping up every honour along the way. In 2008, in the United States, this genuine snowboarding icon won the Women’s Rider of the Year, Women’s Video Part of the Year and Women’s Readers’ Choice at the prestigious Annual TransWorld SNOWboarding Riders’ Poll Awards. Top-level professional athletes such as Silvia Mittermuller (Germany), Chanelle Sladics (USA) and Hana Beamen (USA) will round out the roster of participants, for performances that are bound to captivate.
Calling all amateurs
On Friday, April 3rd, 2009, riders will compete during the Oakley amateur qualifications. The first 80 men to register will have the opportunity to show off their skills and earn their spot among the three amateurs who will go head to head with the pros during the semi-finals on Saturday, April 4th. On the women’s side, two of the 20 aspiring amateurs will have the chance to carve out a place for themselves among the pros at the Coors Light Rail Jam. The registration form is available on the Shakedown Website at www.shakedown.ca
A jump and rails
Riders will be taking part in a one-of-a-kind competition that requires them to master two different disciplines: the Big Air and the rail jam, featuring a rail with different textures revealed only on the first day of competition. The great unveiling of the Shakedown’s best-kept secret is, in fact, always highly anticipated by visitors and participants, who must adjust their strategies accordingly. Hang on to your hats, because this year’s rail is more original than ever, and promises to astound with thrilling, high-altitude performances.
As for the Empire jump, its configuration is already known. Riders will cover 50 feet, followed by a 20-foot climb. The ramp measures 12 feet, has a 50-foot plateau and an 80-foot by 60-foot wide landing area. Since riders move from left to right to provide fans with a better view of the action, the jump configuration involves using the slope’s full width.
A unique format
The RIDE Shakedown involves two distinct competitions: the main competition of the same name, featuring semi-finals and an ultimate final round, and the Coors Light Rail Jam, which takes place exclusively on the rail. Both competitions are open to men and women. The first day of the RIDE Shakedown is dedicated to the Oakley amateur qualifications and the Coors Light Rail Jam. The second day introduces the two phases of the main competition.
At the RIDE Shakedown, athletes have two hours to perform two judged runs, announcing them before they carry them out under the watchful eye of a jury of six industry players, all with over 15 years of experience in snowboarding (see attached list).There is no pre-determined order, as riders perform when they feel ready, a unique competition format appreciated by all those involved.
In the men’s category, 35 professional athletes will participate in the semi-finals, along with three amateurs selected the day before among the 80 aspiring riders, giving them the chance to match skills with the pros. Only 15 athletes will advance to the main event, the 2009 RIDE Shakedown finals, set to take place on the evening of Saturday, April 4th. During the Coors Light Rail Jam, 20 athletes will wow the crowd with their unforgettable series of snowboard tricks.
In the women’s category, 10 high-calibre pros will battle it out during the semi-finals, with 5 of them going on to the finals. During the Coors Light Rail Jam, three professional riders will be invited to join two amateurs selected that day among 20 competitors. Women will compete on the same course as men, at the same time along with them. Only the ranking differs, given that they are judged separately.
The Purse
With a total prize of $35,000, $20,000 for men and $15,000 for women, the RIDE Shakedown currently stands as Canada’s most generous event of its kind. In the men’s category, prizes of $10,000, $3,000 and $2,000 will be awarded to the three RIDE Shakedown champions, with $5,000 going to the winner of the Coors Light Rail Jam. As for the women, the three winners of the 2009 Shakedown will ride away with $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000, while the Coors Light Rail Jam champion will pocket the sum of $5,000.
Broadcast of the 2009 RIDE Shakedown
The event will be broadcast in a special program on April 26th, at 2:30 p.m. on RDS and on May 2nd, at 11:00 a.m. on TSN.
Event schedule (subject to change)
Friday, April 3rd
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oakley amateur qualifications – Men (80)
4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Rail Jam amateur qualifications – Women (20)
5 p.m. Announcement of qualifying athletes
6 p.m. to 8 p.m 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Coors Light Rail Jam– (5 women and 20 men are invited to perform snowboard rail tricks)
8:30 p.m. Awarding of the prizes
Saturday, April 4th
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Snowboard Canada autograph session with professional athletes
2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Competitors’ warm-ups and pro semi-finales
6 p.m. 6:45 p.m. Push.ca halftime show – (skateboard pros on the AMP Energy rail)
7 p.m. to 8 p.m. 2009 RIDE Shakedown finals
8:30 p.m. Awarding of the prizes
9 p.m. 9 p.m. Troublemakers presents in collaboration with Coors Light and Dose.ca the official Shakedown afterparty – at the Bourbon Street Club in Sainte-Adèle (must be 18 years old and over)
Our partners
The 8th annual RIDE Shakedown was made possible thanks to the support of RIDE Snowboards, Mont Saint-Sauveur, AMP Energy, Ubisoft, Coors Light, Empire, Oakley, Push.ca, as well as Nixon, Nikita, IFound, Drop, Bern, Dose.ca, Thirty Two, Camp of Champions and Moog Audio. The participation of the following media should also be noted: Snowboard Canada Magazine, MusiquePlus, 33mag.com, Slash magazine, Crux Magazine and Myspace.
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