rEvolution to Host 2007 Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open

rEvolution, the Chicago-based integrated sports marketing and media services agency, is operating this year’s Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open, March 3-4, 2007 at Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, Calif. This is the first freeskiing event of its kind for rEvolution, and the agency is responsible for every aspect of the event, including the development of the promotional website (www.bigbearopen.com), organizing event registration, supervising event set up, staging the event and overseeing the judging process.

Nearly 100 competitors are expected at the 2007 Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open for the Superpipe (extra-large halfpipe), Rail Jam (customized urban rail), and Slopestyle (where a skier is free to choose his or her own route through a course consisting of various terrain features, such as bumps, rails, and jumps) competitions. Pipe qualifying events will be held during the day on Saturday, with the finals of the Halfpipe contest taking place Saturday night. The Slopestyle competition will be held Sunday morning with the finals in the afternoon. Some of the world’s best freeskiers are expected to compete, including X-Games multiple medalist Peter Olenick, as well as notable freeskiers Matt Phillipi, Josh Bibby and Scott Hibbert. At stake is an automatic qualifying spot for The Ski Tour, North America’s new elite, four-stop mountain festival and skiing competition.

rEvolution’s management of the 2007 Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open marks the first major event run by its recently opened West Coast office and Youth/Action Sports Division, which is led by industry pioneer Craig Elledge, whose experience includes both the Olympic Games and X-Games.
"The 2007 Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open is a capabilities exercise that illustrates rEvolutions’ ability to work seamlessly in youth and traditional sports," said Elledge, senior vice president, business development. "With rEvolution having an established track record in college and professional sports, making our mark in rising youth and action sports markets is the next logical step."

There is a $20,000 cash purse associated with the 2007 Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open, which will be televised on the Versus network on Saturday, April 7th at 2:00 pm EST/11:00 am PST and repeated twice on Versus the following week on the program Fusion TV. The show will also be broadcast at least twice in more than 100 countries internationally. In addition to the Versus network, the event video will be available online and on demand via Lat34.com, AOL’s new action sports website within 48 hours after the event. To learn more about the event or to register, visit www.bigbearopen.com.

2007 marks the fifth year that Paul Mitchell Professional Salon Products is the title sponsor of the Big Bear Freeski Open. Paul Mitchell Professional Salon Products are the "style in lifestyle sports." Product sponsors of the 2007 Paul Mitchell Big Bear Freeski Open include Spyder Venom, Roaring Lion Energy Drink, BOSS and Skullcandy. Media sponsors include Freeskier Magazine, Lat34.com and Power 106 FM in Los Angeles, Calif.

About rEvolution
A full-service sports marketing and media agency, rEvolution utilizes the platform of major sporting events, leagues, teams and athletes to promote its clients’ consumer and business-to-business brands. rEvolution is Chicago-based with a global reputation. rEvolution’s marketing division offers such services as creative strategy, sponsorship negotiation, branding, event marketing, promotion, research and hospitality. rEvolution’s media selling, buying and planning division, called the rEvolution Sports Network, provides custom-designed, on-air strategies for advertisers interested in reaching national and regional audiences through college football and basketball, World Cup Soccer, motorsports, action sports, as well as other major sports programming vehicles. Unencumbered by a network of holding company interests to consider, rEvolution, a mid-sized, independently owned agency, joins forces with clients in creating and implementing business-building ideas. Three long-standing industry experts, who possess more than 50 years of collective global sports experience and relationships, lead rEvolution’s skilled team of professionals. More information about rEvolution and the unique experiences they have created and executed is available at www.revolutionworld.com.

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