The Amazing Media Chase Race

Saturday, January 14, 1:30 p.m.

Over 150 writers, editors and television personalities will descend on the local ski hill to participate in the second annual Amazing Chase. Modelled after television’s hit Amazing Race, the scribes and talking heads from Edmonton, Calgary and in between will have to go through a series of pit stops and challenges.

This year, the “celebrities” will have to brew coffee, search for beacons with avalanche tranceivers, fence and serenade Miss Rodeo Jasper with a mouthful of marshmallows.

According to John Mossman of Marmot Basin, contestants will be coming from Edmonton’s A Channel, City TV, CFRN and CBC as well as those folks with faces for print news from the Journal and the Calgary Herald.

“We used to have a media race up here but not in this format ... we’d just set a slalom course. This race is a lot of fun,” he said.  

Sadly, not just anyone can participate in the good times; invitees had a media package sent to them from Jasper Tourism and Commerce. Strangely enough, no such packages appeared in good ol’ Box 428. Too bad!

Demo Days

Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15, all day

If you’d rather ski than watch the liberal media faceplant in powder, this weekend is an excellent time to do it. Demo Days will see a wide range of ski and snowboard manufacturers visiting Marmot to display their wares to an adoring public.

“They’ll give out a whole bunch of free swag and people will have the chance to try the latest 2006-2007 equipment,” said Mossman.

The demo displays will be set up outside the chalets at mid-mountain and included in the participants are Elan, Nordica, Nitro, Smith, Rip Curl, Dynastar, Salomon, Rossignol, and Volkl.

“It’s an awesome opportunity for anyone and everyone who wants to get out there,” said Mossman. “It’s a great time to come to the hill.”