BACKSTROM & COLLINSON WIN THE MCCONKEY CUP

ARNE BACKSTROM AND ANGEL COLLINSON WIN THE FIRST MCCONKEY CUP

Thousands tuned in to watch the final and super final rounds of the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships LIVE on www.freeskiingworldtour.com

Salt Lake City, Utah- March 21, 2010-The 2010 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour has come to a close today, on Snowbird's North Baldy venue at the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships. The crowd surpassed yesterday's semi-final by two fold; there were rows upon rows of dug out snow benches, the smell of burgers on travel grills and the random toots from horns and megaphones, all in support of the remaining athletes that have made it through the Tour gauntlet.

As impressing as the crowd was, the athlete's runs were even more so. Today's level of skiing in both the Finals and Super-Finals were absolutely awe-inspiring. Riding on the tails of yesterday's trickery, today's runs showcased even more cork 360's, switch cliff landings and even a couple of 720's-most notable by Claudia Bouvier, of Vail, Colorado. Although Bouvier she missed her landing, she will forever be known as "the girl who went for a 720 in the Super-Finals," at least until she sticks one in 2011.

The Super-Finals, were a collection of the top five women and 12 men from the Finals, and it was definitely a stomp to win situation on North Baldy, considering the level of skiers in the mix.

For the men, an East coaster won, Lars Chickering-Ayers, of Mad River Glen, Vermont, skied a fast, aggressive line, getting huge air off of Flying Squirrel Cliff and then straight-lining it to a double-drop in the Amphitheater, earning him a combined score of 125.57.

"I just went as hard as I could," said Chickering-Ayers. He certainly did, his run was clean, fluid and fast, with seamless cliff-stomps, all the makings of winning run.

Following Chickering-Ayers in second was Drew Stoecklein, of Snowbird, Utah, with 121.37, in third was Oakley White-Allen, of Snowbird, Utah, with 119.5, in fourth, Nick ''little buddy'' Greener, of Snowbird, Utah, with 117.5, which also earned him the coveted Backcountry.com Sickbird Award.

For the overall Tour standings, Arne Backstrom, of Squaw Valley, California, who took ninth today, hung onto to his season-long Tour Leader title, winning the coveted McConkey Cup.

Of those that stomped hardest and landed, for the women, Angel Collinson, of Snowbird, Utah, was the definite leader, earning a combined score of 104.23. Collinson's aggressive skiing and strategic double cliff drop in Amphitheater, not only earned her the top spot for today, but also was enough to push into the lead for overall Tour points, who also took third in Revelstoke, Canada and fourth in Crested Butte. Colorado.

"I went for it, because this isn't about winning, it's about skiing," said Collinson of what she was thinking before dropping in.

For her stellar skiing, Collinson was awarded the McConkey Cup, in honor of the man who not only pioneered big mountain skiing, but also started the International Freeskier Association.

As we approach the one-year anniversary this week of the sports founding father's untimely death, it is only fitting that the overall championship award be dedicated to none other than Saucer Boy.

"He is the overall, leader and inspiration of freeskiing," said Event Director Bryan Barlow, "It was Shane's vision to create a freeskiing competition, to bring the world's best skier to one place and demonstrate the progression."His legacy will continue to live on through the spirit of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour and through the athletes that earn his Cup. We know he'd be proud of the progression all the athletes displayed today.''

Collinson, 20, also won the coveted overall 2010 The North Face Young Gun Award.

Behind Collinson in second, was Crystal Wright, of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with a 103.17, in third was Emily Teague, of Aspen, Colorado, with a 96.53, in fourth, Alaina Huestis, of Snowbird, Utah, with a 94.13 and in fifth and Snowbird The North Face Young Gun Award winner, Sara Mancuso, 20, of Squaw Valley, California, with a total score of 93.98.

For a complete results, photos, videos, athlete profiles and more, please visit www.freeskiingworldtour.com

The 2010 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour is supported by Subaru of America, The North Face, Gilt MAN, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Powder Magazine, The Ski Channel, Siege Audio, Mountain Sports International, Sportsinsurance.com, Ski La Parva, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Telluride Ski Resort, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort.