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Tailgate BC hits Revelstoke this week

Freeride festival brings together riding, avalanche education and ‘man games’; locals tickets are $99
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Mark Sullivan

Freeride festival brings together riding, avalanche education and ‘man games’; locals tickets are $99

The inaugural Tailgate BC event is taking place in Revelstoke this week from Mar. 8–12.

Tailgate BC is an extension of Tailgate Alaska, the freeride festival organized by former Snowboarder magazine editor Mark Sullivan.

Tailgate Alaska started in 2008 as a small gathering of backcountry enthusiasts in Thomson Pass, the heli-skiing mecca of Valdez, Alaska. Last winter, almost 500 people came out for the 12-day long event. For this year, it has secured a title sponsorship deal from Flow Snowboarding and it’s now officially known as Flow Tailgate Alaska.

Tailgate BC brings the event to Revelstoke, where skiers and snowboarders will gather for five days near the Great White North restaurant just west of town.

Each day begins with a newsletter being handed out listing the days activities. This includes avalanche courses from Soulrides, snowmobiling clinics and more.

Of course, there will be riding – whether it be by snowmobile, at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, helicopter with Eagle Pass Heliskiing, or skinning up under their own power.

After the time on the mountains, attendees will reconvene at the staging grounds to socialize, meet some pro riders and party. The opening ceremony is on Thursday, Mar. 8. Friday and Sunday nights feature Sullivan’s signature Man Games (“Fun beer garden games that test your manhood,” Sullivan said.) and Saturday night will feature safety games. The final night plays host to the wrap-up bonfire. Sullivan calls the atmosphere at the apres-ski festivities “epicking out.”

“Because this is the first year, it’s all the important to get it off on the right foot, especially given the success of Tailgate Alaska and the potential for Revelstoke to pass that,” said Sullivan during a visit to Revelstoke in January.

Tickets for locals are available for $99 at Society Snow & Skate and The Cabin, while supplies last. For more information visit www.tailgatealaska.com.