Teva Mountain Games Celebrate 10th Anniversary with New and Improved C

(Vail, Colo.) – 2011 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Teva Mountain Games (TMG). What began as a regional, grassroots whitewater competition has transformed into the largest adventure sports festival in the country and serves as the unofficial kickoff to summer in the Rockies. This year’s festival promises to be the biggest and best yet, with a blockbuster four-day schedule that includes new and improved events, concerts and nightlife.

This year, two of the most spectator-friendly events at TMG, the Teva Slopestyle presented by Chipotle big air bike and the Bouldering World Cup presented by Goal Zero competitions have moved to the twilight hour. Slopestyle will take place on Friday at 6 p.m. in Golden Peak, and will feature some of the world’s best freeriders defying the laws of gravity for a panel of judges, followed by a Best Trick bonus round for more cash prizes. Friday evening will now also include food, concessions and a DJ spinning tunes – the perfect way to get things started before a night on the town.

The fourth installment of the IFSC Bouldering World Cup presented by Goal Zero also moves to the twilight hour; 5 p.m. on Saturday on the Vista Bahn Lawn in Mountain Plaza. TMG’s Great Wall of climbing is home to the only World Cup bouldering event in the United States and the crowd’s only opportunity to see the highest ranked international climbers from 25 countries compete side by side. The champion male and female will be awarded their medals just minutes before the start of the free Bud Light Mountains of Music concert with Xavier Rudd at Checkpoint Charlie in the heart of Vail Village. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Dog competitions have always been a favorite at TMG and the Eukanuba Rocky Dog Trail Run presented by Ruff Wear is sure to attract a crowd. The inaugural 5k run and 1-mile run/walk will start and finish in Golden Peak and kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. All sizes and breeds (of dogs and their owners) are welcome.

For athletes looking to push the envelope, the Maui Jim SUP Surf Sprint presented by C4 Waterman is now part of the Ultimate Mountain Challenge. Individual athletes or teams can now choose to kayak or SUP down Gore Creek as part of the four-event, two-day competition.

And last, but not least it wouldn’t be a mountain festival without some parties! In addition to the Bud Light Mountains of Music free concerts at Checkpoint Charlie on Thursday night with The Dirty Heads and Saturday night with Xavier Rudd, the new Aloha Happy Hour presented by C4 Waterman, Maui Jim and Korbel California Champagne will take place at the SUP Demo Pool on Meadow Drive on Saturday afternoon. It’s a free block party, TMG style. And the social highlight of the Games, the Teva Mountain Ball, has moved west to bōl at the Solaris and will go down on Saturday at 10pm. Don your favorite Tevas and get ready to party like a raft guide.