The world’s best skiers and snowboarders are battling it out again for the Freeride World Tour Championship title at four of the world’s most prestigious ski resorts, and this month they’re due to make history at the third stage in Squaw Valley USA, by tackling the permanently closed Tram Face on February 27, 2010.

The tour was due to have started on the Russian slopes of Sochi, the 2014 Winter Olympics venue, but this was cancelled due to bad weather. Instead the first two stages were held at stiop number two on the tour, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France.

At Squaw Valley USA, the only North American stop on the tour, competitors will attempt to “ride” the mythical Tram Face that has never before successfully opened for competition, as weather deterred the event (and first legal descent) from taking place in 2009. The stage is set for a second attempt to make history on the permanently closed terrain during Nissan Tram Face – Squaw Valley USA

In Squaw Valley’s 60 years of operation, the steep rock face below Tower 1 of the Cable Car (known as the “Tram Face”) has remained strictly off-limits. Its steep and seemingly un-skiable pitch and permanent closure have made it a coveted line among the freeride set that calls the mountain home.

This winter, during the Nissan Tram Face – Squaw Valley USA, February 27 – March 5, only the world’s top international skiers and snowboarders descend on the legendary resort in an attempt to stake their claim on the hairy terrain. Last year’s event was slated to be the first-ever Tram Face opening, but a massive snow storm moved the competition to Squaw’s Silverado bowl; pushing the first legal opening of the Tram Face to 2010.

“The level among the riders has increased constantly since the first edition of the Tour. It is no longer enough to be a great skier to take part of the Tour. Physical and mental preparation, thorough inspection of the competition face, and top gear, are all important elements that has helped develop freeriding to a professional sport, becoming more and more known by the broad public,” says Freeride World Champion 2009 Aurélien Ducroz of France.

A testament to Squaw Valley’s paramount terrain and Freeride training ground, 4 of the 9 US athletes invited to compete on the World Tour hale form Squaw Valley USA..

“The reason I strived so much to get on the Freeride World Tour is because there is no Olympics in extreme skiing. [The Freeride World Tour] is the end of the line right there . . . so for me, being able to compete on the tour is amazing, it’s definitely where the top athletes are today and where it’s going on,” says Tim Dutton, Squaw Valley freerider.

The last stage of the tour is scheduled for Verbier on March 20th.

www.freerideworldtour.com