Olympic Valley, CA – With the consolidation of various freeride ski and snowboard competition tours under a single banner this year, The North Face Masters of Snowboarding has been reduced to a single venue for 2013, set for Feb. 13-17 at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows near Lake Tahoe, Calif. The event will feature top big mountain snowboard competitors battling for The North Face Masters of Snowboarding champion title, $15,000 in prize money and a chance to advance to the 2014 Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face.

The event will feature one open 2-star Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ) event at Alpine Meadows Feb. 13-14, with the top five men and top three females advancing to the Masters 4-star Championship event scheduled for Feb. 14-17 at Squaw Valley. Riders participating in the Squaw Valley competition will also earn 4-star FWQ points. A seeding list will be created to qualify athletes for the 4-star event based off 2012 Masters of Snowboarding and Salomon Extreme Freeride Championships results.

“We are truly thrilled and honored to welcome The North Face Masters to our mountains,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “The North Face Masters is undeniably one of the most prestigious events in big mountain snowboarding, and we look forward to watching the best snowboarders test their skills on our legendary terrain.”

In addition to the championship title, The North Face will also grant the A-Rob award in honor and memory of the late Master’s champion Aaron Robinson. The A-Rob award captures the spirit of the community and desire to explore the mountains. Another award up for grabs is The Young Gun Award for the under-21 rider who demonstrates raw talent, an innovative riding style and exemplifies true sportsmanship and passion for the mountains.

“Now in its sixth season, The North Face Masters is one of the largest big mountain snowboarding competition in the country, providing an opportunity for established riders, as well as up-and-comers, to put together a winning run during competition,” said The North Face Director, Sports Marketing Katie Ramage. “Utilizing control, fluidity, creativity and style in choosing their line, riders embrace the natural features within the venue to showcase their sport which continues to advance. We’re excited to bring this event to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows given their world-class terrain and history of attracting world-class riders.”

The North Face Masters is part of the Freeride World Qualifier system. FWQs are rated on a 1 to 4-star scale with competitors earning more or less points at events according to venue difficulty and scale, competitive pool and other factors. The Masters is the top-level qualifier event and a pivotal step for athletes hoping to advance to the Swatch Freeride World Tour by The North Face.

Athlete registration will open on Dec. 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. MST. The North Face Masters is open to all men and women age 18 and above. For more information, visit www.thenorthfacemasters.com.