Valle Nevado, Chile – In the first ever big-mountain Freeride team matchplay event, Europe will challenge the Americas in Valle Nevado, Chile from Sept. 5-12, 2011. This new competition will see the world’s top male freeskiers going head-to-head in both big mountain freeride and backcountry slopestyle formats.

The teams will be captained by two icons of the freeride world. Team Europe will be led by Kaj Zackrisson and Team Americas by Mark Abma. Week-by-week, they will be unveiling their individually selected team riders on Facebook and on the event website, www.skierscup.com, with top names from both the competitive and film side of the sport to be announced.

“We’ve been working on this idea for a number of years, so it’s super cool that Swatch has now made it happen,” says Zackrisson.  “We’re going have a lot of fun and hopefully, after the competition, 12 months of bragging rights!”

“Who wouldn’t be up for this?” adds Abma. “Pow, Chile in September and the coolest riders around, let me know if it gets any better?”

In the event’s competition format, riders will go head-to-head in a series of heats with one point awarded per heat. Two rounds of eight heats per discipline will result a total of four rounds and 32 points available over the two days of competition. Every rider must take part in all four rounds. A draw will take place to decide which team captain chooses a rider for the first heat. The opposing team captain then tactically decides which of his riders will go head-to-head. The other team then strategically decides which opponent they will propose, and for the second heat, the draw and choice of riders is switched. The team with the most points once the dust settles keeps the cup for a year.

A long-term partner of the Freeride World Tour, Swatch has played an active role in the development of the sport and this most recent innovation.  “I am extremely impressed to see the total professionalism of these young men,” said Swatch President Arlette-Elsa Emch. “They’re so full of joy and happiness, you can’t help but share their emotion.”