Subaru Freeskiing World Tour arrives in Los Andes, Chile for TNF Chilean Freeskiing Championships

The North Face Chilean Freeskiing Championships are taking over Valle El Arpa this weekend; this is the second stop of the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour.

Athletes inspected the venue today, and weather permitting, will compete on Saturday and Sunday. Snow is in the forecast, so hopefully things will go off without a hitch.

Below you'll find an introduction video, press release and event schedule, a photo of the venue, and a list of athletes.

Event intro — hear from judges Jim Jack, Brant Moles and Ben Wheeler.

"Who likes helicopters, snowcats, snowmobiles, and blower powder?"

Event director Bryan Barlow addressed the crowded room of international athletes, media, event organizers, and Ski Arpa staff at the Inca Hotel in Los Andes, Chile, headquarters for The North Face Chilean Freeskiing Championships, FWT Stop # 2.

Friday is inspection day at Ski Arpa Cat Skiing where conditions couldn't be better. We're expecting anywhere from two to four feet of new snow on the venue and, unheard of in the Andes, the wind wasn't blowing at all today.

Day 1 venue.

"Tomorrow we'll be moving people from Los Andes to the Andes," continued Barlow. "A wagon train of athlete trucks, staff Subarus, and shuttles will head up the most challenging roads we've ever seen on the FWT starting early Friday morning. This is true backcountry in every sense of the word.

"This is going to be the most exciting event we've ever put on," said head judge Jim Norm Jack. "We're going to an incredibly remote place. Everybody needs to be on point, have a positive attitude, and make this a team effort."

Bottomline is the snow is deep, the team is in place, and the athletes are here and ready to get down to business.

We're going to Disneyland.

Stay tuned for full photo, video and story coverage tomorrow night.

CONFIRMED ATHLETE LIST AS OF 8/18/11

For more about the tour, visit the Freeskiing World Tour website. For more about the venue, visit the Ski Arpa website.

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