The Alps, 18th October 2007 - Organizers of the Swatch O’Neill Big Mountain Pro 2008 have announced a world-class wildcard competitor line-up for the second edition of this innovative mobile freeride snowboard and ski event.

Among the world’s best 26 male freeride snowboarders and skiers set to battle it out for the US$ 80,000 prize purse, the Swatch O’Neill Big Mountain Pro 2008 is proud to confirm the wildcard participation of backcountry freestyle snowboarding pioneers David Benedek and Fredi Kalbermatten, 3-time Air & Style champion Stefan Gimpl and multiple Big Mountain Rider of the Year winner Jeremy Jones. Others automatically qualified to saddle up alongside these incredible riders include the top 8 snowboarders in the Freeride World Tour rankings following the first two tour stops of 2008 in North America and Russia.

The top 8 skiers in the Freeride World Tour rankings, meanwhile, will need to bring their A-Game to the party if they’re to stand any chance of seeing off the challenges posed by the five confirmed wildcard skiers, including Canadian freestyle skiing sensation and US Open 2006 champion TJ Schiller. Organizers are also delighted to announce that first edition standout skiers Phil Meier, Thomas Diet, Sverre Liliequist and Californian Cody Townsend have also accepted wildcard invitations to compete in what promises to be an awe-inspiring second edition.

Come 24th February 2008, this world elite of 26 riders will converge on the picturesque French town of Chamonix, widely recognized as the spiritual home of freeriding. Alongside invited media and ahead of the official contest kick-off, riders and skiers will head to Chamonix’s Vallee Blanche at the Aiguille du Midi, followed by a sunset session at Montenvers. Dinner and an overnight stay at the Hotel Montenvers will serve to set the tone for the next seven days.

From Chamonix, competitors, media and event staff will board luxury coaches before embarking on an eight-day adventure exploring the vastness of the European Alps.

As for the competition itself, and given the success of the inaugural edition which saw victories for France’s Xavier de le Rue and Sweden’s Kaj Zackrisson, the Swatch O’Neill Big Mountain Pro 2008 will continue to adopt its signature mobile format across France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Joined by expert backcountry mountain guides, the 26 competitors will make their way down three of the most impressive peaks in the Alps during the course of the six-day competition window.

With format flexibility playing such an integral role in the success of event, the precise way in which competitors access the six designated contest areas remains undetermined. Three scheduled heli-access days, however, will undoubtedly leave the door open to more traditional modes of access including resort lifts and hiking. Regardless of access methods and guided by the three judging criteria - choice of line, control and fluidity - the competitors will have a week in which to make a winning impression on the panel of judges.

Event organizer Nicolas Hale-Woods is eagerly looking forward to building on the foundations of 2007, and said: “From the very start, the goal of the Swatch O’Neill Big Mountain Pro has always centered on bringing the world’s best riders to the best mountains in the best possible conditions. With the top 8 skiers and 8 snowboarders on the Freeride World Tour joined by these incredible wildcard riders, it’s safe to say we’re well on our way to achieving that goal once again.”

You can witness the evolution of freeride competition right up to the event finale on 2nd March 2008 by catching daily live webcasts by Freecaster stay tuned for more details.