PRESS RELEASE

adidas Slopestyle 2008 takes place in Saalbach Hinterglemm from 31.07.08 to 3.08.08

Neither organizers nor sponsors were put of by this years adverse weather cancellation of the adidas Slopestyle. Today it was determined: the adidas Slopestyle 2008 will once again take place in Austrias Saalbach Hinterglemm, however not in June like in previous years, but on the first weekend in August.

Outdoor events just are weather-dependent, says Axel Burkhardt, head of Olympic Sports, Cycling and Outdoor at adidas Global Sports Marketing. To cancel the event was the only respectable decision. Weather conditions had made course building impossible and the negative weather forecast issued by ZAMG two weeks prior to the event all came true. And without a perfect and foremost safe course there is no point in holding this event.”

With our decision we solely raised respect and understanding within the freeride community, event director Mike Hamel adds. To be honest, we received more positive feedback than after a successfully run event, because people felt that they must convey their regret, knowing how much work, heart and soul we put into this event. They wrote us how important the adidas Slopestyle was and how desperately they wanted it to take place again.

With this request the fans were preaching to the converted. In addition to the classic cross country mountain bikers, freeriders are a core target group for our valley, says Saalbach Hinterglemms tourism director Wolfgang Breitfu. We constantly extend our freeride park. The new X-Line at Schattberg Mountain has already been completed halfway down to the middle station. We would have liked to pull it all the way down this year, but the early onset of winter threw a spanner in our works. Next spring, as soon as the snow is gone, we will resume our work and complete the course. That way we will provide another freeride attraction for the adidas Slopestyle.

Due to the European Soccer Championship in Austria in June next year, the organizers decided to move the date of the event to the first weekend in August. Most of what we had planned for this years event will also be implemented in 2008, says Mike Hamel. The adidas Rock Jam, for instance, or the live streaming in collaboration with Freecaster. We also plan to provide more events for people to take part in. We want to turn the adidas Slopestyle into a freeride happening. The response to the Sponsoree Ticket2Style Rookie Qualifier was tremendous this year and we are thinking about increasing the number of adidas Slopestyle start places that the rookies can win. Furthermore, we are planning a public side event for freeriders. It is our goal to offer the visitors of the adidas Slopestlye a unique freeride experience. Details will be presented early next year.

Apart from the adidas Slopestyle, adidas wants to continue to set a course in MTB freeriding in 2008. We have some great projects in the pipeline.
Besides, we have enlarged our Freeride Crew, says Axel Burkhardt. In January we will present the adiridas 2008. Some of the guys will also participate in the next adidas SMX Event on February 25th. More to be revealed in the New Year.

ADIDAS SLOPESTYLE 2008 TAKES PLACE IN SALBACH