Montreal, QC, Canada, July 5, 2011 – The Ride Shakedown organization greeted with enthusiasm news of Monday’s decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to add ski and snowboard slopestyle to the program of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sotchi.
The Ride Shakedown has always been well aware of the public’s interest for the sport, explaining why snowboard slopestyle is the competition’s focal point. The Ride Shakedown, which celebrated its 10th anniversary by introducing the event to Germany, in addition to the ones in Mont Saint-Sauveur and Seattle, has witnessed firsthand the increasing popularity of the discipline around the world. “It’s great news for the sport and for the athletes, who will have the chance to enjoy more limelight,” explained Patrick Bernier, one of the founders and organizers of the Ride Shakedown. “Year after year, slopestyle attracts a growing fan following. We see it in the amateur round of our competition and in the snow parks.”
Snowboarder Sébastien Toutant, a.k.a. Seb Toots, triple champion of the Ride Shakedown in Saint-Sauveur and winner of the slopestyle at the last X-Games, was also stoked about news of the inclusion in the Olympic Games. “I think it will do a lot for the sport. It’s a great opportunity for me and other riders,” said Toutant, one of the world’s best slopestyle riders.
For the 18-year-old Quebecer, representing his country at the 2014 Games in Sochi is his latest challenge. “It’s a new goal for me. I’m going to do everything I can to get there,” added the L’Assomption native.
The Ride Shakedown organization is also using the opportunity to make a few recommendations. “We would like the IOC to take the time to listen to the riders and respect their views, to make sure that the best riders make it to the Games in Sochi and have the chance to put on spectacular performances,” explained Brendan O’Dowd, also founder and organizer of the Ride Shakedown. The W.A.S. (We Are Snowboarding), a group of professional riders that includes Sébastien Toutant, is a great example of a viewpoint that needs to be taken into account.
“We also have to be careful not to launch a new circuit of competitions for Olympic qualifications, one that would conflict with the overloaded schedules of the riders,” he explained. “There are already competition networks featuring the top athletes in the world.” In addition to federated events, there are several non-federated competitions presented every year, for example with the Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour (TTR).
In that light, the Ride Shakedown is hoping that Canada~Snowboard will work with Canadian events, both federated and non-federated, to bring together a top-notch Canadian team for the Sochi Games.
DIZZLE Entertainment, architects of the RIDE Shakedown
The two founders and partners of DIZZLE Entertainment, Brendan O’Dowd and Patryck Bernier, from Montreal, Canada, have been providing event-oriented design, marketing and management services since 2004. Over time, they have added to these. They now provide services as athletes’ agents and consultants on the design and creation of snowboard parks. Today, DIZZLE is credited with major accomplishments including design, marketing and management of snow parks for Mont Saint-Sauveur International. They are also responsible for the design and distribution of Shakedown MFG, a clothing and accessories line (www.shakedownmfg.com) . For more information: www.dizzleinc.com, www.rideshakedown.com, http://twitter.com/RideShakedown and http://www.facebook.com/RideShakedown.
