KILLINGTON, VT — At the Third Annual National Retro Board Championship March 2, 2002 at Killington, snowboarders will find that their tired, old rides are not quite dead yet. Snowboarders are encouraged to resurrect their Snurfers, Burton Elite, Fastek Bindings, or Sorels with felt liners and join snowboarding’s founders in a fun celebration of their favorite winter toys.

"Killington continues to remain on the cutting edge of snowboarding events and the Retro Board Championship really brings history to the table," said Killington’s Special Events Manager Debbie Makowsky. "Killington's snowboarder population contributes to almost 30 percent of guests here at the resort. It's really amazing to see how far this sport has come and snowboard events are at the heart of the sport. The event is meant to evoke memories of the originals of our sport. It’s time to go old-school and break out the pre- 1990 edgeless boards, high-backless bindings, and old felt-lined Sorels. And don’t forget the yellow banana suits . . . let the festivities begin!"

The Retro Board Championship begins at 10 a.m. with a vintage giant slalom on the Highline Race trail. At 1 p.m., the Kicker Contest will be held and then snowboarders will head to the halfpipe for Superpipe Expression Session at 2 p.m. Immediately following the competition will be an awards party held on the third floor of the Killington Base Lodge, where classic video footage will be shown. Special prizes will be awarded for classic clothing too.

The events will be scored based on rider performance and age of equipment. The benchmark year is 1990, and each vintage older than 1990 will be awarded a half second off the rider’s posted time in the GS. In the halfpipe, for every year pre-1990 a point will be added to the rider’s score. Extra seconds will be subtracted and points added for no Highbacks on the bindings, no edges, and Fins. Prizes will also be awarded for the best classic clothing, the oldest board, the oldest boots, etc.

The "retro" cost is $35 and includes entry fee, T-shirt and lift pass for the day. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Killington Base Lodge. For more information, call the events hotline at 802-422-1700. Ride and Stay packages are available from $104 per person per night based on 2 people in a motel room or 4 people in a 1- bedroom condo. A two night minimum is required. For reservations, book online at killington.com or call 800- 621-MTNS.

Killington is an American Skiing Company resort. Based in Newry, Maine, American Skiing Company is the largest operator of ski, snowboard and golf resorts in the country. Other resorts include: Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine; Mount Snow in Vermont; Attitash Bear Peak in New Hampshire; Heavenly in California/Nevada; and The Canyons in Utah. For more information, visit Killington’s website at www.killington.com.

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff