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News Release

Alyeska Resort Seeks Volunteers for Prestigious 2007 U.S. Alpine Championships

Anchorage, Alaska – March 20, 2007 – Alyeska Resort is still looking to fill several key volunteer positions to help the U.S. Alpine Championships launch without a hitch. The event is scheduled March 27 – April 3, 2007, at Mt. Alyeska. The resort welcomes anyone with race or volunteer experience and a passion for Alaska and alpine racing to sign up.

Volunteers will be utilized in every aspect of the event, including:

• Event operations
• Registration
• Hospitality
• Course crew operations, including gate keepers, gate judges, course slippers
(involves smoothing and shaping the race course) and hand timers

“This event can only happen with the continued support, hard work and dedication of the ski racing community,” said Larry Daniels, event chair and general manager. “Whether you’re a former racer, current racer or parent of a Mitey Mite, everyone will benefit from the efforts volunteers put forth to make this a successful event.”

Volunteering provides a tremendous opportunity to watch the nation’s top athletes speed thousands of vertical feet in the downhill or dart between dozens of gates in the giant slalom. This year, the impressive list of athletes slated to hit the slopes include Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso, Lindsey Kildow and Bode Miller. Ligety is the winner of an Olympic gold medal in the combined at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. Mancuso, an Olympic giant slalom champion, took five consecutive World Cup podiums this year. Kildow, took her seventh World Cup victory in January and won two silvers at Worlds in February. Bode Miller was the winner of the World Cup gold in the Super-G at the 2005 World Championships, as well as a pair of silver medals in the 2002 Olympics.

This year marks the third time Alyeska will host the prestigious U.S. Alpine Championships. Alyeska first hosted the event in 1981, and again in 2004. Three years ago, approximately 400 people signed up to volunteer. The University of Alaska Anchorage Outdoor Club, the Seawolf Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, the Alyeska Ski Club and the Mighty Mites youth ski club have previously volunteered for the races. Alyeska is tapping similar organizations this year. It’s an exciting opportunity to get a front row view of big name athletes while assisting an international event.

“I would definitely do it again,” said Michael Taylor, a UAA student and course slipper during the 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships. “You get to see the U.S. Ski Team up close and personal, and you also get to see the upcoming new stars.”

Alyeska Resort is offering several incentives to volunteers, depending on the amount of time they devote to the event. A free lift ticket will be awarded to volunteers for every day (4 hours minimum) worked. Volunteers who work two days will have a choice of two lift tickets or an event hat. Those who work three days can select three lift tickets or an event t-shirt. All volunteers will earn one point for every day of volunteer work. The top 175 volunteer point earners will receive a Patagonia jacket with the event logo.

Alyeska Resort is the perfect location for the 2007 U.S. Alpine Championships and is committed to making it an outstanding competitive event. Conditions in March and April are excellent at Mt. Alyeska, with plenty of sunlight, mild temperatures and an abundance of snow. Alaska’s premier ski resort features nine lifts, including a 60-passenger passenger tram and three quad chair lifts with the capacity to shuttle 10,335 skiers per hour onto 68 different runs. During the U.S. Alpine Championships, there will be plenty of room on the mountain for competitors, volunteers and spectators as well as recreational skiers and snowboarders.

Anyone wishing to volunteer can sign up online at www.alyeskaresort.com or call (907) 754-2553.

The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. For more information, explore www.Anchorage.net.

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Media Contacts:

Laura Tanis
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
ltanis@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax

Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
nlarsen@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118 direct