Esurance Icer Air Athletes Announced
SAN FRANCISCO (September 16, 2008) – ICER is pleased to announce its line-up of some of the best world-class skiers, snowboarders, freestyle motocross, and BMX/skate park riders — as well as exciting musical performers including The Cool Kids and K’Naan — for this year’s fourth annual Esurance ICER AIR competition, taking place Saturday, October 18, 2008, at McCovey Cove’s Lot A, along San Francisco’s famed waterfront and adjacent to AT&T Park.
“We are thrilled about the incredible line-up of award-winning athletes participating in this year’s event,” said ICER AIR founder Glen Griffin. “Esurance ICER AIR is a continuously evolving event and this year we are really excited to be expanding outside of the ball park as well as welcoming some new competitors to the scene. The returning athletes and the new guys are just as excited as we are about the event and we’re all looking forward to making this year bigger and better than ever.”
The line-up for this year’s Ski competition includes 2007 Esurance ICER AIR winner and nine-time Winter X Games medalist Jon Olsson. Simon Dumont, overall Halfpipe winner at the 2007 Honda Ski Tour and multiple medalist at Winter X Games is back for his fourth attempt at an Esurance ICER AIR win. Sammy Carlson, one of the best freeskiers in the world, will return for his third appearance, after clinching third place at last year’s competition. Two of the biggest threats to the Big Air podium, Tanner Rainville and Sean Field will be back for their fourth appearance at Esurance ICER AIR. Mike Riddle, Superpipe, Slopestyle and Superhit winner at the 2007 World Skiing Invitational is slated to return for his quest for a podium spot. A talented field that includes John Spriggs, Colby West, Peter Olenick, Michael Clarke and Oscar Scherlin will set the stage for another epic competition at Esurance ICER AIR. New to this year’s competition are Swedish superstars Jacob Wester and Jossi Wells.
The line-up for this year’s Snowboard competition includes two of the biggest names in men’s snowboarding, Andreas Wiig, a double gold medalist at Winter X Games 11 and Chas Guldemond, the current Swatch TTR leader and third place finisher at last year’s Esurance ICER AIR. Tim Humphreys, 2007 Air & Style Rookie Challenge winner will be gunning for his first Esurance ICER AIR win after coming in second last year. Torstein Horgmo comes to this event with recent big wins including Big Air gold at Winter X Games 12 and a Slopestyle win at the 2008 Burton New Zealand Open. After an absence at last year’s event, Scotty Lago will be back with a vengeance to challenge this year’s field of riders. Scandinavian newcomers include Hampus Mosesson, Antti Autti and Chris Sörman, who are all guaranteed to go Scandinavian BIG over this year’s Big Air. No one quite knows what Esurance ICER AIR veterans Wyatt Caldwell and Ian Thorley plan on throwing down, but it will most certainly leave the audience in awe.
David Ny of Scandinavian Shaper along with his team will be returning to Esurance ICER AIR this year to build an even bigger and better ski and snowboard jump. Ny and his team have designed snowboarding and skiing venues around the globe, including the Winter Olympic Games in Torino, and are considered the most experienced jump designers in the world. This year’s jump will rise an additional eight feet in height over last year’s, reaching over 11 stories, and will extend and additional 16 feet in length, allowing for a longer jump and longer run-out. The jump and run-out will be covered with nearly 200 tons of snow.
In addition, this year’s Freestyle Motocross ramp will be set up to crisscross over the landing of the ski and snowboard jump, adding an exciting visual aspect to the competition. Some of the best freestyle motocross athletes will be on hand to jump over a 70ft gap spanning the run-out of the ski jump structure.
Esurance ICER AIR 2008, an action sports, music and lifestyle event, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 18, from 12 noon to 8 p.m. at McCovey Cove’s Lot A, adjacent to AT&T Park, on the San Francisco Embarcadero waterfront. As Esurance ICER AIR continues to evolve, McCovey Cove’s Lot A venue provides the ideal setting along San Francisco’s beautiful waterfront to create a comprehensive lifestyle community, complete with Esurance ICER AIR’s signature big air ski and snowboard competition.
Esurance ICER AIR 2008 includes a star-studded line-up of Olympic and X Game athletes in the arenas of ski, snowboard, skate, BMX and FMX Motocross, as well as interactive exhibits and a beer garden. General admission tickets are $28; family four packs offer a $24 savings and are available for $88. All tickets can be purchased at icerair.com.
Esurance ICER AIR is committed to being a responsible leader in environmental conservation and is planning the following for the event: a solar powered music stage, an extensive onsite recycling program; all marketing materials printed on recycled paper; plates, napkins and cutlery made from recycled materials; onsite bicycle valets; an extensive public transportation program; a “click ‘n’ print” ticket program to eliminate unnecessary delivery; and much more.
