Quiksilver, Inc., said today that it has received a binding offer from Chartreuse & Mont Blanc to buy the Rossignol Group for 100 million euros ($147.2 million USD).

The sports-apparel company said that Chartreuse & Mont Blanc is headed by Bruno Cercley, who is a former chief executive officer of Rossignol. The deal, expected to close in the fall, includes the Rossignol, Dynastar, Look and Lange brands of winter sports equipment and apparel.

Robert B. McKnight, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive and President of Quiksilver, Inc., commented, “This offer is a compelling transaction for Quiksilver and represents the culmination of a thorough sale process. Once completed, we can fully concentrate our efforts on our core apparel and footwear brands Quiksilver, Roxy and DC.”

Quiksilver paid $560.8 million USD for Rossignol three years ago, but put the unit up for sale this year after becoming disappointed with its foray into hardgoods and the winter market. Quiksilver expects the transaction to close in fall 2008 and said it plans to use sale proceeds to pay down debt. Chartreuse & Mont Blanc is majority owned by Macquarie Group, and has a non-voting minority interest by Jarden Corp, the parent company of K2 and Volkl.

The New Zealand ski resorts of Turoa and Whakapapa, on Mt Ruapehu in the Central North Island, have today both cracked the 3 meter mark for snow. “It has been thirteen years since Whakapapa has had this depth of snow,” says Marketing Manager, Mike Smith. “While on Turoa, only once has it exceeded the three metre mark and that was in 2006.”

It is still snowing and the forecast is for continued snow during the next few days.

Smith anticipates that it is highly likely that Whakapapa will be open for Christmas skiing, a feat which last occurred in 2004/5.

Mt Hutt
In Canterbury the Mt Hutt ski area is enjoying the best conditions in years with over 2.5 metres of snow. In the last week 36cm of new snow has giving skiers and riders near perfect conditions, with wall to wall, top to bottom runs.

It is in these conditions at Mt Hutt that the Norwegian Men’s Alpine Ski Team and the Austrian Women’s teams will be training hard, when they arrive on the mountain August 20th.

Queenstown
Snow fell to lake level in Queenstown, with 15 cms reported on Coronet Peak and 12cm at The Remarkables. In total, over the last seven days there have been falls of 35 cm and 22 cm respectively, bringing their bases on the upper mountains to over 1 meter.

Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie says there’s fantastic skiing and riding across the entire mountain.

“It’s vintage Coronet Peak, it doesn’t get much better this. Today there’s an awesome powder day atmosphere – everyone’s carving it up and having a ball.”
Over at The Remarkables, manager Ross Lawrence is seeing the same kind of grins.

“It’s such a buzz to look around and see The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Queenstown and the entire Wakatipu Basin just blanketed in snow.”

Wanaka
Residents in nearby Wanaka woke to snow on Tuesday and the ski resorts have reported 20 cm of new snow in the last 48 hours.

Nick Faldo, the British golfer and captain of the 2008 European Ryder Cup Team, will design an 18-hole resort golf course to open in summer 2011 at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

“Revelstoke Mountain Resort will offer a golfing experience that combines breathtaking views with engaging and tactical golf,” says Nick Faldo. “Set amidst towering trees and meandering creeks, the course will incorporate strategic features that take full advantage of the varied terrain and natural characteristics of the site.”

Opening last winter, Revelstoke Mountain Resort now offers the longest lift-serviced vertical descent in North America at 5,620 feet. In addition, Hawkair Aviation begins scheduled service four times a week between Calgary and Revelstoke this December.

The Revelstoke Mountain Resort course will sit at the base of the mountain adjacent to the village base and the Nelsen Lodge condominiums. Offering spectacular views of the Columbia River and the Monashee Mountains, the valley location will ensure a long playing season from mid-April to October. Crews will break ground in spring 2009.

“The development of the resort’s golf course will take the resort from an exceptional winter experience to the ultimate year-round recreational destination,” says Paul Skelton, president of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. “We have created a pure skiing and riding experience that has captured the world’s attention. With Nick Faldo’s understanding of golf and his record for excellence, we will deliver that level of excitement on the golf course.”

This ski season, the first of three buildings in Nelsen Lodge will open with 59 condo units, ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms; it will be managed by Boutique Hotels and Resorts of British Columbia. By 2009 there will be over 200 condos in Nelsen Lodge plus 24 townhomes and 50 single family lots, some with private helicopter landing pads.

The $1 billion, four-season Revelstoke Mountain Resort is expected to be completed over 15 years and include over 5,500 new housing units comprising top-tier luxury hotels, townhomes and single family homes, along with more than 300,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

Calgary businessman Gary Allan is rejoining Alpine Canada Alpin as President to lead business operations while Chief Athletics Officer Max Gartner will direct sport programming in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

With the national sport organization focused on making Canada a world leading alpine ski racing country for 2010 and beyond, the moves are designed to sustain existing efforts which have led to dramatic team improvements over the past five years.

“We have a very strong organization with quality people and exceptional sports programming,” said Mr. Allan, who served as President until stepping down from-day-to-day operations earlier this year. He has remained involved in the sport.

“With the Winter Games only two winters away, we have a solid strategic plan and very clear goals for our national teams. Our goal is to focus efforts on providing the resources and programs our athletes need to win.”

“To fully implement our plan Alpine Canada Alpin needs about $1 million in more funding annually. I intend to expand marketing efforts to secure the funding Canada’s athletes require to win,” Mr. Allan added.

Allan will be responsible for day-to-day operations while Gartner continues to manage athletic programs as the two executives’ partner to achieve the continuously improving results required in the Alpine Canada Alpin Strategic Plan.

“Gary Allan has proven himself in the business world and is most capable of maintaining the momentum that has been built in recent years. It was important moving forward to keep focused on increasing resources and improving our athletic performance toward the 2010 Games in Vancouver/Whistler,” said Reid Drury, the Chair of ACA’s Board of Directors, in announcing the executive changes.

Canada’s able-bodied and para-alpine ski teams combined to achieve a total of 74 World Cup podium finishes last season. CAST has improved from 12th in the World Cup standings in 2002 to sixth place last season while the CPAST team finished a record-setting second overall last season. Both teams enter critical period’s with World Championships taking place later this season followed by the 2010 Olympic Winter Games just two winters away.

The Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team structure, lead by High Performance Director Jean-François Rapatel, will remain unchanged.

The trail lead home for the four Fernie Teams who enjoyed great support form the town on their arrival. George King was quoted saying, “That’s a long way to travel by bike” as the 30+c heat took its toll on the weary group.

The Blackstone Fernie Breathe Easy teams had more to celebrate that finishing the race, their team effort had secured over $10,000 in support of Asthma Canada. With a goal of $20,000 and enjoying the momentum of having completed the race with severe Asthma, team leader Pepper Sterling expressed that all her goals might be reached. Donations can be made on line at astama.ca until August 31st.

To read the Breathe East teams blog visit: fernie.com/transrockies

Here are the teams at the finish line:

Blackstone Fernie Breathe Easy1
Pepper Sterling and Shayne Soetaert

Blackstone Fernie Breathe Easy2
Michelle Kramer and Sebastine Bade

Evolution Fitness
Angie Bryans and Inga Ivany
These ladies held 3rd place all week and became the 1st Fernie team to finish on the podium! Visit the girls website at trgirls.ca

SMS Equipment
George King and Doug Koran
Two good-old-boy trail builders who spend most time making Fernie a better place to ride!

For detailed race results visit: transrockies.com

No ceremonial Stage 7 cakewalk, the final leg of this year’s TransRockies was the toughest in the event’s history and took place on another blistering day above 30-degrees Celsius. Longer than it has been in prior years and with more famous Fernie, B.C. singletrack, the last leg of TransRockies VII proved a rewarding but tough slog for many teams, even those at the front of the pack.

Jesse Jakomait of Sobe Cannondale, who came in 3rd with teammate Mike Garrigan in Stage 7 and 5th overall summed up the week by saying, “The first 20 minutes of the first day and the last 20 minutes of the last day were the toughest. It started with a bang and ended with a bang.” Jakomait said the top five Open Men’s teams went pretty hard from the last control station to the finish in Fernie, which was evident at the finish line in the form of some surprising twists.

Multiple-time TransRockies winner in years past, Andreas Hestler and his first-time TR teammate Chris Sheppard crossed the finish line first, cheered on by crowds enthusiastic about a Canadian team coming in first, ahead of expected stage winners Marzio Deho and Johhny Cattaneo of Italy. Hestler said upon finishing that he was happy to get his teammate atop the podium at least once this week and that the plan that morning had been to attack early and stay ahead with the goal of crossing the line first. “Shep attacked early and I went with him,” Hestler said of the first punishing ascent in the lead group. “It hurt though. They all fought pretty hard.” “The Italians were dangling just behind us and then about 10 to 12 kilometres in on the logging road we noticed all of a sudden they were gone.” Deho suffered a broken seat around the 10-kilometre mark but managed to hold it together for 70+ km by wrapping a tube around it. In the end, Deho and Cattaneo came in 5th for the last stage, but easily swept the overall Open Men’s title with a time of 22:39:40 - 25 minutes ahead of 2nd place overall winners Kris Sneddon and Max Plaxton (CAN), who also came in 2nd place during Stage 7. Third place overall went to Marty Lazarski and Stefan Widmer (CAN), who came in 4th for Stage 7.

Despite the last day’s grind on a broken bike, Deho was all smiles at the finish line, nodding happily when asked if he felt good about the week. “Today I am happy,” he said. “It was a great opportunity and I appreciate the chance to do this with Andreas,” Sheppard said, acknowledging he may be back next year. “If you had asked me two days ago on top of a mountain my answer would have been no,” he laughed, “but today is a good day.”

Hestler admitted he approached the week with a more laid-back attitude than he has in year’s past. “I’m getting old,” he laughed. “It hurts too much.” “I have always had a good friend to do TransRockies with,” he said. “Just about any of the pro guys can race together because they all ride about the same level, but at the end of the day you have to be able to spend eight hours in an RV with them. I have rode every day of all seven TransRockies races - never missed a day - and always had a good friend to do it with.” “He drank the last beer in the RV last night,” Sheppard interjected. “That hurt.” “This was a tough, tough, tough year. There’s no two ways about it. It was a good course and a tough field (of competitors),” Hestler said. So is this it for the TransRockies veteran? Hestler said the question is not so much about what to expect from a potential new course or other event-related unknowns, but rather what to expect of himself. “It’s more about knowing what to expect of your body at this stage,” he said.

Yesterday, more than 120 people were on hand at the Farnham Creek road blockade. Members of the Ktunaxa Nation and East Kootenay citizens from all walks of life came together to celebrate the blockade’s early success and send a clear message to the developer and government: We do not accept the lack of transparency by both the government and developer in regard to the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort.

The Farnham blockade was put in place soon after local residents realized that proponents of the Jumbo Resort development were pushing road into the alpine with the intent of building a temporary ski lift. Road building equipment has since been removed from the alpine near East Farnham Glacier. Supporters of a wild Jumbo enjoyed an initial victory at the blockade site with Ktunaxa Nation members including a friendship dances, speeches and a celebratory cake.

“We were happy that so many people could make the long trip up to the blockade site,” said Dave Quinn, a Wildsight program manager. “Jumbo Wild supporters were delighted at the removal of the heavy equipment—and heartened to have Ktunaxa people by our side calling for more open communication from the Ministry about the Farnham development. We were all shocked when the road started going in.”

East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett is the recently-appointed Minister of of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. It is his ministry that administers the Jumbo portfolio. He has stated that the resort proponent, Glacier Resorts Ltd., was within its legal rights to build the road, citing a 1993 license of occupation.

This stance doesn’t hold much water with Wildsight—or with the Ktunaxa Nation, who are fed up with the confusion and lack of transparency around the Jumbo issue. A Ktunaxa Nation press release dated August 12, 2008 says: “Recently there have been attempts by the proponent, Glacier Resorts Ltd., to build a roadway and lift to the Farnham Glacier using a license for the purpose of sight-seeing and alpine skiing. This license of occupation was arbitrarily transferred from the previous holder, Calgary Olympic Development Association to Glacier Resorts Ltd. with no consultation with the Ktunaxa Nation. The Ktunaxa Nation also did not receive any referrals from the government regarding the development of a road or lift in the Farnham Glacier, as is required by law. . . The rally’s goal is to draw attention to the government’s lack of transparency in the Farnham Glacier developments.”

Supporters of Jumbo Wild, including Wildsight and the Jumbo Creek Conservation Society, echo this call for the B.C. Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts to provide full disclosure on all decisions relating to the tenure and the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort.

Ktunaxa Nation Chair, Chief Sophie Pierre, attended the rally. She said: “We are both surprised and deeply disappointed at the lack of open communication from the Ministry about the Farnham developments and its implication. For a road and lift development to happen through the back door at this juncture shows disrespect for the process by both the Ministry and Glacier Resorts Ltd.”

Quinn was quick to note that recent statements by the resort proponent that the road was being put in to provide skiing for Kootenay amateur athletes is a red herring.

“This assault on the alpine is not about skiing and is not about children or Kootenay amateur athletes as the Jumbo developers erroneously claim,” he said. “The existing Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA) training camp on the East Farnham Glacier is open for all amateur athletes with coaches to apply for training. The people on the blockade have maintained a positive relationship with CODA and their operations have continued as usual. CODA representatives have stated clearly that this attempt by developers to build road and a lift are not in support of CODA’s program.”

Quinn said that after nearly 20 years of controversy, Jumbo Wild supporters look forward to the tenure being revoked—“and to the entire ill-conceived proposal being dropped for good.”

He cautions that however long the controversy remains, “Jumbo Wild supporters are energized to carry on. It’s time for the Province to kill this ridiculous proposal once and for all.”

For more information
Dave Quinn, Program Manager
Mobile telephone 250.427.8878

500 plus mountain bikers are making their way to Fernie in a seven day stage race covering over 600 kms. The Fernie Blackstone Breathe Easy Teams are facing this challenge plus attempting to raise $20,000 for Asthma Canada. Team Captain Pepper Sterling is also facing her own challenge with asthma.

For daily updates stay tuned to this blog: fernie.com/transrockies

Fernie Alpine Resort is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Fernie Full Throttle Mountain Bike Festival, taking place August 23 and 24, 2008. An annual event that has been steadily growing since its inception, this year’s activities will attract its share of competitors, spectators, and those looking to enjoy some fun in the sun.

The two-day festival is a showcase of Fernie Alpine Resort’s summer activities, while providing entertainment and live music for those taking a break from the mountain or guests eager to soak up the scenery from the comfort of the resort plaza. With 35 mountain biking trails to discover, there’s plenty to explore during the summer months at Fernie Alpine Resort.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, August 23rd

8:00am – 11:00am
Full Throttle Pancake Breakfast
Join us for a full breakfast (pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage and coffee) on the Kokanee Deck between 8am and 11am. All proceeds will go to local charities.

9:00am Start
The Rossignol Challenge
The Rossignol Challenge is a multi-sport race that focuses on FUN for all levels of athletes! Enter as a 2-person team or challenge yourself and go solo! The course includes 2 stages – A trail run, followed by a cross-country mountain bike ride. Great competitor prizing from Rossignol!

12:00pm (Start Time)
Super D Downhill Race
Things will heat up on the mountain on Saturday afternoon with the Super D Downhill Race – A gruelling all-mountain event that incorporates technical singletrack riding with endurance and speed. For ages 13+, this race will test the full spectrum of mountain bike skills!

11:00am – 11:00pm
Kokanee Beer Gardens & BBQ Open
Big Screen playing in the base area!

10:00am – 5:00pm
Family Mountain PlayZone
Centrally located in the mountain plaza and base area of the resort, the Mountain PlayZone will be a hub of activity! Saturday and Sunday’s activities will include the Bike Trials Demonstration, and Kids PlayZone, complete with face painting, bike decorating, bouncy tent and more!

12:00pm – 4:00pm
Rockstar DJ

4:30pm – 7:00pm
LIVE BAND in the main plaza

7:00pm – 10:00pm
Reels of Wheels Mountain Bike Film Contest
The “Reels of Wheels” contest aims to provide amateur filmmakers the opportunity to showcase the region’s amazing mountain biking terrain and/or mountain biking talent. Entries should be submitted to the Resort in DVD format, and should be a maximum of five minutes in length. The deadline for entries is Thursday, August 21. The “Reels of Wheels” registration form will soon be available for download at www.ferniefullthrottle.com <http://www.ferniefullthrottle.com/> .

The DVD entries will be previewed by our judges prior to the festival, and premiered to the public on the Big Screen on Saturday evening (August 23). The winning video will receive a $500 cash prize!

Sunday, August 24th

9:00am – 3:00pm
Family and Friends Amazing Chase
Gather your family or a group of friends and your bikes and participate in this fun “Amazing Chase” around the mountain. A great activity for all!

10:00am – 4:00pm
Family Mountain PlayZone
Centrally located in the mountain plaza and base area of the resort, the Mountain PlayZone will be a hub of activity! Saturday and Sunday’s activities will include the Bike Trials Demonstration, and Kids PlayZone, complete with face painting, bike decorating, bouncy tent and more!

12:00pm (Start Time)
Dual Slalom
The old-school Dual Slalom is back! Riders race head to head in this exciting, fast paced event. Great for spectators as the dual slalom course is right at the base of the mountain!

12:00pm – 5:00pm
Kokanee Beer Gardens and BBQ Open

12:00pm – 4:00pm
Rockstar DJ

Proudly sponsored by:
Full Throttle Energy Drink, Rossignol, Scott, Fernie Lodging Company, McDonalds, Falkins Insurance, Kokanee, Appleton’s, Smith Optics.

Please note: Schedule is subject to change

Book your weekend of biking, music and festivities starting at just $69 per person per night. Call 1-800-258-7669 to book today!

For more information, visit www.ferniefullthrottle.com.

The Idaho Mountain Express reports that legendary ski filmmaker Dick Barrymore died at his Ketchum, Idaho, home Friday. Barrymore was 74. The cause, as reported by the Wood River Chapel, was brain cancer. Barrymore’s many ski films include Last of the Ski Bums (one of the only ski films to ever receive widespread commercial distribution), The Performers (based on K2’s famous ‘demonstration’ team) and Wild Skis.

The Idaho Mountain Express includes a funny quote Barrymore wrote for “Breaking Even,” his story of his life making ski films: “With a normal motion picture, you shoot a film about a story,” Barrymore wrote. “With a ski film, you make a story about the film you’ve shot.”