Snowbird, UT (Saturday, January 25, 2003) - After a challenging two days of unusually foggy weather, the Subaru US Freeskiing Nationals Skiercross event was given just enough clearing to run the competition today at Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort. The women's time trials were graced with sunny skies and a fast snow conditions, but shortly into the running of the men's trials, the fog came in and held through the entire semi-final rounds. It was not until the finals that the athletes and many spectators were able to truly enjoy the fast and furious competition which was taking place amidst the clouds.

The single-run timed trials, which seeds the athletes for the semi-final rounds, had ESPN X Games Gold Medalist Aleisha Cline of Whistler, BC Canada, Anik Demers of Squaw Valley, Vicki Bates of Snowbird leading the field of six women. Little changed for the women into the finals, as they held their trial placements through to the final round. In the men's division, Justin Glick of Silverthorne, CO had the fastest timed trial, followed by Enak Gavaggio of Savoie, France, Davie Barr of Whistler, Kaj Zackrisson of
Rattuik, Sweden, and Kyle Darling of Snowbird.

The course was designed by Keith Phaler and Jason Webster, incorporating a series of motocross influenced jumps, burms, and whoops combined with gates. Four racers hit the course together, their keys to success are the infamous "hole shot", and consistent speed to break away from the other athletes, and beat them to the bottom. The final obstacle of the course was a large "Subaru" table top jump where the athletes sailed over the automobile towards the finish line.

Of 44 male competitors entered in the event, 32 were seeded to form the initial round of heats. After the sweet 16 round, skies had cleared and the great 8 round consisted of Justin Glick, Kaj Zackrisson, Kyle Darling, Ryan "The Rock" McCullough, Reggie Crist, Matty Wittner, Enak Gavaggio and Davie Barr. 2002 ESPN X Games Gold Medalist Reggie Crist came through the finals triumphant on the eve of X Games title defense, "I was thinking that we may get shut out again today by the fog, after the timed run. My timed run was pretty scary, I couldn't see the take off for that last jump over the Subaru", said Crist of the competition. "I'm stoked about the win today because it was my first skiercross of the season, and it got rid of the nerves, and fired me up for X Games in Aspen next week".

Finishing 2nd in the finals was Davie Barr of Whistler, BC Canada, Justin Glick of Silverthorne, CO came 3rd, Kaj Zackrisson of Rattuik, SWE earned 4th, Matty Wittner finished 5th, last year's US Nationals Skiercross Champion Enak Gavaggio finished 6th, 7th place went to Kyle Darling and Ryan McCullough finished in 8th place. $10,000 cash was the total prize purse for the event and Crist took $3500, Cline was awarded $1500. Many of the athletes will be competing in both the big mountain and skiercross events in hope of winning an additional combined title prize of $5000.

Tomorrow, Sunday, will start the Big Mountain competition. Athletes will ski some of Snowbird's most challenging terrain on the "Silver Fox" run and compete for $10,000 cash. Competition will get under way with the women at 9:30am. Spectators are welcome to watch the competition, which is easily accessible to all levels of skiers. The finals will be held on Monday at "North Baldy".