Contact: Troy Hawks
NSAA Communications
(720) 963-4215
thawks@nsaa.org

Beaver Creek Driver Wins NSAA’s Phatcat Challenge
Resort Groomers Compete Head to Head Atop Vail Mountain.

VAIL, Colo. – January 10, 2007 – Beaver Creek Grooming Operator Chuck Davis won Top Op honors while competing in NSAA’s 3rd Annual Phatcat Challenge held atop Vail Mountain. For the win, Davis was awarded $1000, a TOP OP Award and an official Phatcat vest. The Phatcat Challenge, sponsored by Mountain Uniforms and Resorts Interactive with support from snowcat manufacturers PistenBully and Prinoth, is designed to test the skills of ski resort grooming operators nationwide.

In the competition, held at Vail’s Eagle’s Nest area, resort grooming operators were challenged to navigate a slalom course flagged with several tight cornering situations; to groom a blade-to-grade feature that simulated a chairlift unloading ramp; and to perform two straight passes that tested drivers’ ability to create a uniform, smooth snow surface.

Taking second place was Wil Brown, of Vail Mountain and third place went to Mark Gressett of Aspen. Before hitting the course, competitors attended a snow surface management workshop that discussed the industry’s best practice grooming solutions focused on providing a high-quality snow surface for skiers and riders.

 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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