Breckenridge, CO (Tuesday, January 21, 2003) - The 2003 X Qualifier hits the slopes of Breckenridge this weekend, Jan. 24 – 26, offering a last-chance opportunity for athletes to earn a spot in the action sports world’s most prestigious event, the Winter X Games. This is the second year Breckenridge has hosted the X Qualifier.

“Last year’s X Qualifier for halfpipe drew competitors from around the world which reflects the growing popularity of our sport,” said Michael Jaquet, marketing and business development director at TransWorld Media and the former publisher of FREEZE magazine. “This year we are adding a slopestyle competition to the format and Breckenridge’s terrain park and Superpipe is ideal for this. This is the last shot for kids to make it to the X Games and that is a big carrot to young skiers around the world."

Only seven athletes will be chosen from the X Qualifier for the Winter X Games in Aspen, three from the Superpipe and four from Slopestyle. These selections will round out the 15-person fields for the big event a week later. Other than the Breckenridge qualifier and a smaller qualifier in Europe, the only way to get a spot in the X Games is to place well in other top competitions like the U.S. Freeskiing Open and World Skiing Invitational.

During the slopestyle competition Friday Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25, skiers will be taking Breckenridge's larger, enhanced features in the Freeway Terrain Park. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the X Qualifier athletes will be competing in Breckenride’s new Superpipe cut with the Zaugg Pipe Monster, creating a 400-ft. pipe with walls up to 18 feet, making it the largest in Colorado.