Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001

SNOWBASIN TABS OLYMPIC DOWNHILL COURSE "GRIZZLY"

HUNTSVILLE, Utah (Jan. 4) - Snowbasin Ski Area announced Thursday that
"Grizzly" would be the name of the men's Olympic downhill course.
Snowbasin officials  felt that Grizzly was descriptive of the
challenging turns, pitches and vertical feet skiers and racers would
have to conquer before finishing the course.

Grizzly will be officially dedicated during the 2001 Café de Columbia
Downhill World Cup at Snowbasin Feb. 24-25, 2001. This World Cup will be
the first time racers compete on the new men's Olympic trail and is the
test event before the 2002 Olympic downhill competition takes place at
Snowbasin.

The name Grizzly has local meaning to the Northern Utah area and also
ties into Ogden's "Spirit of the West" celebration being planned for
Snowbasin's World Cup event. As local legend has it, a grizzly bear
nick-named Old Ephraim roamed in the area back in the early 1900s and
was finally put to rest by Frank Clark in 1923. Old Ephraim was a
gigantic, ruthless bear that outsmarted sheepherders and hunters for
years. Snowbasin has named different parts of the course using the rich
history tied to Old Ephraim and the western spirit tied to Ogden.
Different names on the course include:

Ephraim's Face, Trappers Loop, John Paul Traverse, Muzzleloader Jump,
Slintlock Jump, Off Track Canyon, Bear Trap, Slingshot, Hibernation
Hole, Buffalo Jump, Arrowhead Jump, Rendezvous Face, Three Toes

Racers preparing for the World Cup will be given the challenge to tame
the Grizzly course. The men will conquer a slope of over 70 percent
grade as they leave the Mt. Allen ridgeline at 9,350 feet. Racers should
reach the finish line of the 9,895-foot (3,016 meters) long course in
less than two minutes. At the timberline, the men's course runs parallel
to the women's, and together they will slide through a series of gulches
ending the race at a common finish line. The racers will finish at 6,391
feet (1948 meters), for a total vertical drop of 2,959 feet (902 meters)
on the men's course.

Wildflower, the women's 10,302-foot (3,140 meters) long course, brings
together a blend of wide open gliding paths and steep, technical areas
that will show both the beauty and power of the sport. This steep and
challenging run begins at 8,720 feet (2655 meters) and drops 2,319 feet
(707 meters) to finish on slopes that at times reach a 58 percent grade.

Snowbasin will host four test events in 2001: men's Super Series on Feb.
9-11, men's downhill World Cup on Feb. 24-25, disabled World Cup on Feb.
26 to March 4 and the women's Super Series on March 16 to 18.

Both Grizzly and Wildflower are open for the public to experience.
Visitors will be able reach Snowbasin via the new Trappers Loop
Connector Road and spend 30 more minutes on the slopes instead of in the
car. Ticket prices are $43 for an adult all-day pass and $25 for a
child's all-day pass.

- Best in the World! -