Los Andes, Chile – The North Face Chilean Freeskiing Championships will return to Ski Arpa Cat Skiing in Chile for the second consecutive year, August 22-26. With a $10,000 prize purse, the open event held in the shadow of 22,841-foot Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the western hemisphere, will attract top freeskiers from around the globe to compete on a backcountry venue only accessible by snowcat and touring.

This competition will be a Freeride World Tour (FWT) 4-star event, a critical opportunity for up and coming athletes to earn points towards their worldwide ranking.

“Ski Arpa is one of those venues that you truly can’t appreciate unless you’re there – jumping into cats, doubling on snowmobiles, and ripping massive 3,000-foot fresh lines with friends from around the world,” said FWT Event Director Bryan Barlow of Mountain Sports International, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. “This event and location brings all of the best qualities in big mountain skiing, traveling, and competing together to create an unrivaled adventure experience. This competition truly shows that a top level freeride event can be held in a backcountry setting.”

The North Face Chilean Freeskiing Championship will be held as an open event, and will be based on a seeding list from 2012 Freeride World Qualifer (FWQ) results. There are approximately 50 total available spots for men and women. Registration opens Wednesday, July 18, at 2 p.m. MST on www.freeskiingworldtour.com.

“The Freeride World Tour once again positions Chile as one of the countries with the best natural snow conditions in the world, where the best athletes of the freeskiing world will meet,” said Santiago Fernández of The North Face South America. “Out of the more than 7,000 kilometers of the Andes, we chose an ideal setting: El Arpa, the perfect location for this unique competition, with incredible off-piste skiing and a stunning backdrop. This championship in Chile represents the strong bond that exists between TNF and the local community of skiers.”