Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Ingrid Backstrom Sweep Top Honors in Aspen

SAN LEANDRO, California — February 5, 2009 — The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announced The North Face Athletes Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Ingrid Backstrom swept the Powder 2009 Video Awards and Reader Poll, January 23, 2009. With Aspen, Colorado as the setting, the world’s finest of the ski industry gathered to celebrate the best of the best documented achievements of the 2008 season.

Cattabriga-Alosa once again stole the show, winning Best Male Performance in Under The Influence (Teton Gravity Research), in which he combined technical Alaska lines with Wyoming powder. He also took home Best Point of View for his use of a helmet camera and his on-slope perspective in the film. In addition to nabbing third place on the Reader’s Poll – Male, Cattabriga-Alosa won the coveted Best Line award, for his run of Haines, Alaska’s, Hotel Room, an intimidating, beautiful face with streaking spines running from top to bottom. Cattabriga-Alosa was also the subject of the winning Photo of the Year, taken by Adam Clark in Haines.

“It is a honor to have been recognized at the Powder Awards for the hard work TGR and I put in to last winter,” said Cattabriga-Alosa. “Mad props go out to all the inspiring skiers out there that live their dreams, from the local rippers to top pros, people are doing rad things on skis and snowboards and I am grateful to be a part of it.”

Backstrom continues her reign of Best Female Performance, in Claim (Matchstick Productions), where she shreds in both Alaska and her backyard of Squaw Valley, California. Backstrom also took home first place in the Reader’s Poll – Female, her fourth win in the category.

“I’m honored to be recognized by Powder and by everyone who voted in the Reader Poll,” said Backstrom. “I feel grateful to be included in such awesome company as all of the other nominees and winners, and inspired by all of the other skiers who are charging so hard!”

The Powder Video Awards and Reader Poll honor the ski world’s best filmmakers and athletes. Categories include Best Male and Female Performance, Best Cinematography, Breakthrough Performer of the Year, Best Point of View, Best Powder, Best Editing and Best Line. The awards also feature the Reader’s Poll Awards, which name skiing’s top five favorite male and female skiers as determined by votes from the readers of Powder magazine.

For more than 40 years The North Face has teamed up with the world’s finest mountaineers, alpinists, climbers, skiers, snowboarders and endurance adventurers who have defined the limits of what is humanly possible. The North Face Athlete team works closely with Research, Design & Development, creating innovative designs that push new technologies and inspire cutting-edge products.

For more information on Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Ingrid Backstrom, check out www.thenorthface.com
For full results and details on the Powder Video Awards and Reader Poll, check out www.powder.com


About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

Press Contacts:
Pamela Bennett
510.618.3654
pamela_bennett@vfc.com

Amy Goldhammer
510.618.2815
amy_goldhammer@vfc.com