RECCO brings back the King of the Hill to Valdez, Alaska, this spring. On April 3rd, big-mountain riding's most legendary event returns to Thompson Pass. Four generations of riders will test their skill sets from the backcountry, halfpipe, snowboard cross, and slopestyle on 4,000-foot vertical of undulating natural terrain, littered with halfpipes, fins, outcroppings, cliffs and deep, pristine powder.

"It's the craziest, deepest, powder you can find. It s the best place in the world to snowboard. It's pretty scary, and big, and fast everything is 20 times bigger than anywhere else in the world," said legend Mark Frank Montoya about the event.

"These runs will demand massive airs, Cro-Magnon leg strength and cat-like board-handling agility. It's the ultimate test of a professional snowboarder in one run, pitting the hard-charging exuberance of youth with the accrued mastery of those with years of experience," emphasized Mark Sullivan (founder of Tailgate Alaska and organizer of RECCO King of the Hill.)

From Shaun Farmer, Kevin Jones, Mike Basich and Seth Wescott to Travis Rice, Mark Landvik, Scotty Lago and Aaron Robinson, the re-introduced big-mountain freestyle competition sets out to crown the sport's best. Founded in 1993 by Nick Perata (a legendary big-mountain snowboarder), the King of the Hill not only put the Valdez snowboarding scene on the map, it helped define an era in the sport. And for the first time in 10 years, RECCO is presenting the challenge for those willing to take on the world s best mountains and snow conditions. April 4th, 5th, 6th 7th 8th and 9th will serve as weather days.

"We are incredibly pleased to give our sport the opportunity to display a combination of all riding skills in one challenge. It will be interesting to see the outcome and who will be crowned," stated Nick Perata.

Although, the RECCO King of the Hill will be an invitational event, drawing elite riders to prove who has the ultimate mountain prowess, Tailgate Alaska is open for all to not only witness the superb action but to join in the surrounding fun as well. Special discount rates for hotel accommodations as well as for helicopter-, snowmobile-, and snowcat access are available at: www.tailgatealaska.com


RECCO , the title sponsor of King of the Hill, joins the promotional family of Tailgate Alaska: The World Freeride Festival presented by Alaskan Brewing, Red Bull, Ski Doo, The North Face, ABA, Nomad Shelter, The Mountain Sky Hotel, GoPro, Swix, Airblaster, Levitation Project, K2, Flow, Coleman, Smith, Swiftwick, BCA, Valdez Alaska, and many more to create the largest freeriding festival in the world. Tailgate Alaska is the annual parent event a surrounding two-week festival of riding the boundless peaks of Alaska by heli-, snowmobile-, and snowcat slated for March 26-April 12, 2010. Go to http://tailgatealaska.com for more information.