Jeep King of the Mountain Series Announces 2005/06 Schedule

November 8, 2005

VAIL. Colo. — Professional snow racing's most prestigious event, the Jeep® King of the Mountain Series, today announced plans for the 2005-2006 Professional Skiing & Snowboarding World Championships.

The Jeep King of the Mountain Series, which offers the richest cash purse in snow racing, will feature 32 of the world's top skiers and snowboarders competing head-to-head to capture the coveted title of World Professional Champion as well as a share of the record prize purse topping $450,000 (U.S.), $20,000 (U.S.) in bonuses from John Paul Mitchell Systems and the keys to a new 2006 Jeep Commander.

The 2005-2006 season will feature stops at some of the most spectacular resorts in the world, each providing for a unique and majestic backdrop, world-class recreational facilities and a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Six races will be held over the four different event weekends between December 2005 and March 2006, including two pure ski events, two pure snowboard events, and two unique events that combine both skiing and snowboarding, making the Jeep King of the Mountain Series the first integrated racing program in North America.

A national audience will be able to view the four-event Jeep King of the Mountain Series on nationally syndicated television and CBS Sports for a total of six hours of coverage between January and April 2006.

While race sites and athletes, as well as additional details about the Series, will be announced in the coming weeks, highlights of the 2005-2006 Professional Skiing & Snowboarding World Championships include:

The Series will introduce a new grassroots program designed to encourage amateur participation in snow sports at terrain parks throughout North America and Canada. The program will enable hundreds of winter resorts and snow sport clubs to stage terrain park events with amateur ski and snowboard challengers earning the right to represent their resort/club and earn a shot at the national crown.

The Series has announced The Heuga Center as its official charitable partner. This non-profit organization, founded by former Olympic ski racer Jimmie Heuga, is dedicated to improving the lives of people with multiple sclerosis through educational and wellness programs, and ongoing research.

The Series will move from a team format to an individual format, replicating the structure of the Professional Mountain Biking World Championships. This format will allow a greater number of the most decorated national and international ski and snowboard athletes to enter and compete independently for the World Professional Championship.

The Jeep King of the Mountain Series will continue to incorporate the highly popular National Open Qualifier system at each event, allowing top-notch amateur and professional ski and snowboard racers to earn a spot against the world's best for a shot at the title of World Professional Champion. In addition to battling one another, the athletes will be taking on a daredevil racecourse known simply as The Y, which delivers high-speed excitement in a format that combines the technical skill of Parallel Giant Slalom with the cutting edge drama of skiercross and boardercross.