WHISTLER, BC, March 2, 2010 – Whistler’s longest-running event of significance, the 15 year old TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival steps up to fill the post-Olympic economic lull in Whistler with a ten day and night celebration of sports, music and arts, and an unprecedented commitment of funding to the community’s core cultural contributors.
“As members of the community of mountain sports lovers, we are constantly stimulated by what the artists, photographers, filmmakers, designers, and athletes are doing, so we’re reciprocating by sending some serious stimulus back their way,” says Festival Director, Sue Eckersley.
Taking place in the wake of a winter that has been dominated by the hosting of the XXIst Winter Olympic Games and the forthcoming Paralympic Games, the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival will offer recognition to the grassroots practitioners of new school skiing, snowboarding, film-making, action photography, new media, visual arts and design.
Come April 16-25, 2010, an unprecedented haul of prize money will recognize those who are not just excelling on the field of play, but transforming it.
Over $85,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the Festival’s athletic events for the best (lycra-free) snowboarders and skiers.
More than $40,000 in cash and prizes will recognize the talents of an array of artists.
The fiscal breakdown:
· The 72 Hour Filmmaker Showdown, a high-test filmmaking contest, commits $5000 cash, in addition to $10,000 in prizing, for the winning team. $1000 will also be awarded for the first time to the People’s Choice selection from amongst the 10 finalists.
· Project 3PO, a new media showcase of digital shorts, awards $2500 cash to the Best in Show, plus $1000 for the People’s Choice Award.
· The industry leading Pro Photographer Showdown expands this year to feature 6 photographers, providing an unprecedented $18,500 cash in prizing, with $10,000 to the Best in Show, $1500 for each finalist, and $1000 for the first People’s Choice Award.
· A brand new photography contest for action-oriented portraiture, re:Action, will award $2500 cash for the single image of a single actor that best distills the essence of action sports practice.
