Contact: Keri Hone
NSAA Director of Events & Projects
khone@nsaa.org
(720) 963-4214

NSAA’s 2nd Annual Eastern Phatcat Challenge Ends in Tie
Smugglers’ Notch, Sugarbush Snowcat Operators Split $1000 Cash Prize

Winners of NSAA's 2nd Annual Eastern Phatcat Challenge, Sugarbush Resort's Willie Bozack (left) and Smugglers' Notch Resort's Mike McAdoo.

KILLINGTON, Vt., – February 9, 2006 – Two Vermont ski area snowcat operators tied for first place while competing in NSAA’s 2nd Annual Eastern Phatcat Challenge held at Killington Resort, February 7, during the NSAA Eastern Winter Conference and Tradeshow. Smugglers’ Notch Resort’s Mike McAdoo and Sugarbush Resort’s Willie Bozack, were each awarded $500, a TOP OP Award and an official Phatcat Avalanche Ski Wear fleece vest.

The phaTcat Challenge, sponsored by Avalanche Ski Wear with support from snowcat manufacturers PistenBully and Prinoth, is designed to test the skills of ski resort grooming machine operators nationwide. In the competition, operators navigated a course that required negotiating a slalom course flagged with several tight corners; a blade-to-grade feature that required grooming a chairlift unloading ramp; and a straight pass that tested drivers' ability to create a smooth snow surface.

Illustrating the competitiveness of the competition, there was also a tie for second place between Mount Snow Resort’s Elia Hamilton and Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort’s Hugo Billard. Each driver was awarded an Avalanche Phatcat fleece vest. Finishing in third place was Camelback Ski Area’s Ron Getz.

Next up, the Phatcat Challenge travels to Squaw Valley USA, Calif., at NSAA’s Western Winter Conference and Tradeshow slated for March 6-8.

 THE NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, COLO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS NATIONWIDE.

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