Monster Army at the Clash @ Clairemont 3

The worlds best skateboarding and BMX pros rode together to benefit the Grind For Life cure for cancer program and the Krause Family.

Monster’s Leskinen pulls off BIG women’s slopestyle/rail comp Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:16 PM

Monster Energy & Skier Kristi Leskinen Come Together On A Blazing Comp For Females
The inaugural Monster Energy “Homecoming” Ski and Snowboard Invitational at Seven Springs (Pa.) is a big hit with top women slopestyle and rail riders

CORONA, Calif., (March 17 , 2009) – Monster Energy-backed pro freeskier Kristi Leskinen truly stomped the landing this weekend on one of the biggest and most innovative ‘happenings’ for female skiers and snowboarders in some time with the running of her first-ever Monster Energy “Homecoming” Ski and Snowboard Invitational at Pennsylvania’s popular Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

The slopestyle and rail jam event featured top female skiers and snowboarders from all points on the map and was developed, according to Leskinen, to “create a platform of awareness around the sport and showcase the progressive riding of the top female athletes.”

“I have been dreaming of doing an event like this for years, and after all of the meticulous planning thanks to everyone’s participation and hard work, the contest went off without a hitch and could not have been any better,” said Leskinen, a Winter X Games IX medalist. “Seven Springs pulled out all the stops to make this a first class event. We look forward to making it even bigger and better in year two.

“And thanks again to my sponsor, Monster Energy, for stepping up and lending their support.”

A Pennsylvania local (Uniontown), Leskinen worked with Seven Springs’ Snow Park Technologies team to design and construct the slopestyle course with multiple rail features that would bring the best out of female skiers and snowboarders alike.

For the skiers it was Kaya Turski who would take top honors. Turski overcame a shoulder injury (suffered in practice) and blasted big on her final runs with corked 720s, switch 900s and Zero Spins. Second place went to Grete Eliassen, with the final podium spot going to Monster Energy’s home girl Leskinen. Note: Leskinen’s Monster Energy teammate on skis, superpipe specialist Sarah Burke, was also on hand for the competition.

Leading the snowboarders was Chanelle Sladics, who threw a Cab 360 and 540, followed in 2nd by Sylvia Mittermeuller (who came all the way from Germany to compete) with Maribeth Switkoff in 3rd.

Leskinen also credited her involvement with the Women’s Sports Foundation as playing a vital role in the Monster Energy “Homecoming” Ski and Snowboard Invitational, adding that the organization helped educate the female athletes on building momentum with women’s sports.

Partnering with Monster Energy, Seven Springs and Leskinen on the event were: Oakley, Rome Snowboards, Willi’s Ski & Board Shop and Freeskier magazine.

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it ski and snowboards, SX, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, rock crawling, wake, mini bikes, surf, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend, along with the new Monster Energy “Hitman” energy shot. Kristi Leskinen digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com