2008 Empire Shakedown - One of the world’s TOP 5 snowboarding events set to welcome 35 of the greatest professional riders on the international scene! - Montreal, Canada - This April 4th and 5th, the Mont Saint-Sauveur ski resort will host, for the 7th
2008 Empire Shakedown
One of the world’s TOP 5 snowboarding events set to welcome 35 of the greatest professional riders on the international scene!
Montreal, Canada - This April 4th and 5th, the Mont Saint-Sauveur ski resort will host, for the 7th consecutive year, the event ranked by the snowboarding industry among the TOP 5 worldwide: Empire Shakedown 2008!
After six highly successful editions showcasing a format in a class of its own, the Shakedown enjoys an enviable international reputation. Today, this event is eagerly awaited by professional riders — who hope to be invited —, as well as up-and-coming riders vying for one of the 80 amateur spots and their chance to measure their skills against the pros, and… a crowd of 25,000 spectators on hand to cheer them on throughout this two-day event…
This Canadian happening promises to be more spectacular than ever this year! The introduction of an all-new configuration will provide spectators with a better view as the show and performance level soar to breathtaking heights!
“We are incredibly excited about this 7th edition, since we will be unveiling a new, daring and innovative configuration designed to make the show more intense than ever, by adding distance to an already winning equation! In fact, this new configuration involves using a slope’s full width, so that riders can move from left to right, unlike previous years when we favoured top-to-bottom runs.
This will further challenge pro and amateur riders, much to the delight of fans!” states Patryck Bernier, co-founder and vice-president, DIZZLE Productions.
The Empire Shakedown: a challenge for the pros and a springboard for the amateurs
The 2008 Empire Shakedown will once again be presenting an outstanding program with 35 of the world’s leading professional snowboarders (by invitation) and 80 amateurs, who will be performing during these two days of competition.
Crowds will thrill to performances by world-class athletes such as Mathieu Crepel (France), 2007 world halfpipe and big air champion (FIS) and winner of the 2006 TTR (Ticket to Ride) World Snowboard Tour, Laurent-Nicolas Paquin (Canada), named 2008 “Jibber” by Snowboarder Magazine, Darrel Mathes (USA), star of world renowned snowboard films. In addition to these snowboarding giants, we note the return of the young champion from L’Assomption, Québec, 15 year-old Sébastien Toutant, who finished second in the “amateur” finals before taking top honours and the $10,000 purse in the grand finale of Shakedown 2006. This intrepid rider continues to take major titles around the world.
Amateur athletes eager to take the Ride Snowboards Amateur qualifications can register for the Empire Shakedown 2008 as of Friday, April 4th. The 80 first amateurs to register will have the opportunity to compete against the pros on Saturday, April 5. The registration form is available on the Shakedown website. The first to register, first confirmed…
A unique format, a novel configuration!
Riders will be taking part in a one-of-a-kind competition, as it will call for a mastery of two different disciplines, i.e. AMP booter jump, followed by the rail in jam format. The physical installations will include a rail with different textures, which won’t be revealed until the first day of competition, i.e., on Friday, April 4th. The unveiling of the rail’s composition remains a highly anticipated moment for both visitors and participants, who must adjust their strategies accordingly. You can bet this year’s rail will manage to surprise, yet again…
As for the dimensions of the AMP booter, athletes will be required to cover a distance of 60 feet in length and more than 20 feet upwards. The ramp is 12 feet high, with a 60-foot plateau and a landing area measuring 60 feet by 60 feet wide (at its narrowest).
It should be recalled that each rider will be judged on two runs, which must be completed within a set timeframe, during which the competitor must warm up, announce his two runs and carry them out under the critical eye of a jury consisting of four snowboard professionals (see attached jury list). There is no pre-determined order, as riders perform when they feel ready to do so. Three of the 80 amateurs will be chosen to compete with the 35 professionals in the semi-finals. Of these, 15 will move on to the finals, i.e. the Shakedown on Saturday, April 5th — the event’s ultimate competition.
This year again, the grand winner will take home the largest purse awarded in Canada, i.e. $15,000. A total of $20,000 will be awarded as follows: $15,000 to the winner of the Shakedown (April 5th competition) and $5,000 to the winner of the Coors Light Rail Jam (April 4th competition). In addition, the winner among the three amateurs competing in the finals will be invited to the main event on Saturday, April 5th.
The Shakedown Village: Mont Saint-Sauveur in full “snow” mode!
Gathered at the foot of the slopes, spectators will get a close-up view of the action, just feet from physical facilities set up specifically for the competition, while entertainment will keep things hopping throughout the Shakedown Village, erected for the occasion. On the program, which is entirely free: entertainment, snowboard booths, the Ubisoft/AMP Energy Zone with video games, a magazine-program distributed on site, as well as door prizes and an autograph session, all presented by Snowboard Canada, Saturday, April 5th from 12 to 1 p.m. — in short, everything you need to discover the exciting snowboard culture with which thrill-seekers clearly identify! Finally, the website houses an online boutique where fans can get the event’s promotional items and…tickets to the Coors Light After-Party!
Schedule (subject to change):
Friday, April 4th
9 to 11 am Registration
10 am to 4 pm Ride Snowboards Amateur qualifications (maximum of 80 participants)
5 pm Announcement of the 3 qualifying amateurs
6 to 8 pm Coors Light Rail Jam (20 athletes will be invited to perform tricks on the rail)
8:30 pm Awarding of the prizes
Saturday, April 5th
Noon to 1 pm Autograph session with the professional riders
2 to 5:30 pm Participants’ warm-ups and pro semi-finals
6 to 6:45 pm Vans half-time show Skateboard on rail/obstacle (performed by professional skateboarders)
7 to 8 pm 2008 Empire Shakedown finals
8:30 pm Awarding of the prizes
9 pm Doors open on the Coors Light After-Party (Must be 18 years of age and over)
Thanks to our loyal partners
In 2008, Empire Shakedown once again enjoys the support of: Empire, AMP, Vans, Ubisoft, Ride Snowboards, Coors Light, Mont Saint-Sauveur, ZooYork, as well as Spy, Nixon, Nikita, 686, IFound, Drop, New Era, Skull Candy, Tourisme Québec, and Moog Audio. The participation of the following media should also be noted: Snowboard Canada Magazine, Future Snowboard Mag (USA), Musique Plus, and 33mag.com.
As well, a special program on this 7th edition will be aired on the RDS Network (April 25 at 5:30 p.m.. DST)
and on TSN (May 18 at 3:30 p.m. DST).
Empire Shakedown 2008… in figures:
Empire Shakedown 2008
▪ The largest snowboarding event in Canada, ranked by the industry as one of the world’s TOP 5 snowboarding events
▪ The most popular event of the winter season at Mont Saint-Sauveur
▪ 2 days of world-class competition (2 different fields – jumps and rail, jam format) showcasing a formula unique in North America
▪ Participants include 35 professional and 80 amateur riders from the four corners of the world
▪ Newly configured course providing a better view and a new challenge for the athletes
▪ A springboard for amateurs who can register to compete, and a challenge for the pros eager for an invitation
▪ Attracts extreme sports fans of all ages
▪ Entertainment activities focused on snowboarding culture (booths, music, apparel, etc.)
▪ A Shakedown boutique is now online offering the event’s promotional items (goggles, sweaters, tuques, After-Party tickets, etc.)
▪ Awarding of a sizeable $15,000 purse to the winner of the grand finale
(total purse awarded at Shakedown: $20,000)
Empire Shakedown, seven years later
▪ Expected attendance: more than 25,000 visitors
▪ Support of many partners, including Empire, Vans, AMP, Ubisoft, Coors Light, Ride Snowboards and Mont Saint-Sauveur
▪ Guaranteed coverage by Canadian and US media specializing in snowboarding
▪ Production of a TV show during the event
▪ Site set up specifically for the event (stands, entertainment village)
▪ National telecast of a special Shakedown show on RDS (April 25, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.) and TSN (May18, 2008 at 3:30 p.m.)
Rider List:
Alex Cantin CAN
Alex Ferland QC
Andrew Hardinham CAN
Austin Hironaka USA
Austin Smith USA
Benji Ritchie QC
Bode Merrill USA
Brad Martin CAN
Charles Gagnon QC
Charles Reid QC
Chris Rotax QC
Chris Wimbles CAN
Darrel Mathes USA
David Melancon CAN
Dustin Craven CAN
Eero Niemela Finland
Frank April QC
Gabriel Mercier Drouin QC
Hans Ahlund Sweden
Ikka Backstrom Finland
Jeremy Cloutier QC
Keegan Valaika USA
Lauri Heiskari Finland
LNP QC
Louie Vito USA
Lucas Magoon USA
Mathieu Creppel France
Matt Dano QC
Max Baillargeon QC
Max Legendre QC
Mickey Rencz CAN
Mike Casanova USA
Mikkel Bang Norway
Morgan Parker CAN
Nash Lugenaisse USA
Nic Barbe QC
Reno B QC
Rube Goldberg CAN
Scott Shaw CAN
Scotty Arnold USA
Sebastien Toutant CAN
Sylvain Beauchesne QC
TJ Schneider CAN
Torstein Horgmo Norway
Will Lavigne QC
Friday, March 07th 2008 @ 07:38 AM.
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