The soaring mountains of Valdez, Alaska are set for the World Heli Challenge, which is going global in April 2012. It is set to stage a tour stop in Valdez and it will embrace and revive two legendary Alaskan big mountain competitions. The two competitions which look to be revived are the King of the Hill and the World Extreme Skiing Championships (WESC).

Classic competitions
These three iconic, grassroots, big mountain events were at the foundation of the freeriding movement in the 90’s and now join forces to host the world’s best freeriding skiers and snowboarders for an unparalleled two days of spellbinding helicopter-accessed competition during a ten-day weather window from 14th to 24th April 2012.

Event co-director Tony Harrington, who organises the competition with Karen McCune and Nick Perata, is excited at this new chapter in freeriding. He said: “Creating a global tour and bringing our like-minded events together into one premier tour has long been a vision for all of us.

“It’s the right time to do it and we have overwhelming support in the community of Valdez to make this event a success.”
 
At the heart of the competition is the combination of big mountain and backcountry freestyle elements. Skiers and snowboarders will showcase their skills and strengths in both disciplines to determine the best all-mountain athlete.  Organisers of King of the Hill and the World Heli Challenge pioneered this combination of disciplines back in 1993 and 1995, respectively, when the events were founded.  They remain core to the events today.
 
Harrington, created the New Zealand event in 1995. After a seven-year hiatus it stormed back onto the freeriding calendar in 2009.  The huge response to its return has inspired the exciting step of bringing the global tour linking both hemispheres.  As characterized by ESPN the ‘most revered free riding events on earth’ are back with the announcement of the Alaskan World Heli Challenge and athletes worldwide are jostling for entries in what will effectively see the rebirth of King of the Hill and WESC, now linked under the World Heli Challenge banner.
 
thumping terrain and let them do their best. It’s so much more than a competition. The support and enthusiasm we’ve had from the freeriding community worldwide has been humbling and that’s why we had to bring these events back,” explains Harrington. “There are plenty of competitions out there but the World Heli Challenge is about sharing our passion for this incredible sport, being a part of something bigger and making history.”
 
The World Heli Challenge Alaska will include a photographer and filmer shoot-out with a series of short films and photographs documenting all aspects of the ten-day gathering and culminates with a Showcase Awards Evening screening where winners will be announced.