MT. HOOD, ORE. (January 2012) – iNi Cooperative is proud to announce it’s current roster of snowboarders for the 2012 season. These great individuals are not just team riders but true agents of change spreading the knowledge and awareness of a better way of doing business and promoting the sport they love.

iNi Cooperative was formed to advance unity and sustainability.

iNi Cooperative is a talented and diverse group of friends. We are athletes, artists, musicians, and designers who have decided to leave our traditional jobs and corporate sponsors to become agents of change. iNi Cooperative is striving from its outset to create a sustainable organization. We focus on the use of strictly renewable/or up-cycled materials in our products as well as the development of socially responsible manufacturing.

The iNi Cooperative supports the efforts of 1love.org, a non profit organization, founded by the children of Bob Marley. Together our mission is to empower youth, preserve the planet, and promote peace.

ROSTER:

JJ Thomas has one of the most prestigious resumes in snowboarding with two Olympic medals, two Dew tour championships, and countless other wins under his belt. Growing up in Colorado, JJ has a diverse skill-set allowing him to excel in both the half pipe and the back-country. In addition to iNi, JJ has also recently acquired two new sponsors: Marley Beverages, and House of Marley audio. With all his experience, JJ brings an endless supply of knowledge to our products, image, and mission.

Shaun Mckay joins the iNi Cooperative family as a seasoned veteran and a respected member of the People Creative Films line up. A California native turned NW fanatic, Shaun can be seen destroying Mt. Baker or filming the never ending Whistler Backcountry. Together with iNi, Shaun can give back to the world of snowboarding. A world that has given him so much enjoyment for the last 5+ years.

Colin Spencer, a standout rider from Breckenridge, Colorado, is on a motivated mission, traveling all over North America shooting photos, filming, and competing. Colin’s ever growing bag of tricks has him landing in the top three of many contests and gaining respect within the film world.

Hailing from Mt. Hood, Oregon, Jeff Hopkins is another solid addition to the iNi Cooperative family. Jeff is a ninja on the rails and is growing his bag of aerial tricks by the day. Jeff is without a doubt an up and coming force to be reckoned with. Look out for Jeff all over the country competing and filming.

At 21 years of age, Zack Black is no rookie to the contest scene. Zack has been climbing the ranks of competitive snowboarding for years now winning overall champion for the revolution tour and has now been invited to the big leagues competing in the 2012 Winter X Games, and Dew tours.

Tyler Osland aka Tweez, an Alaskan native, brings his big mountain experience to the iNi team. Growing up in Soldotna Alaska, Tweez began shredding the backcountry at the age of 13. Striving to get into more of the mainstream snowboard scene, Tweez moved to Tahoe in 2003. Linking up with some of the worlds greatest riders, Tweez began to excel in the back bowls of Tahoe, an already familiar setting. Tyler has recently moved up to Welches, OR, where he can enjoy 365 days of snow and be closer to the iNi family.

For more information please visit: www.inicooperative.com, and www.1love.org

Rider: Scotty Lago and Travis Rice Description: Rice giving some support and drive to Legz

Snowboarders Arrive at Baldface Lodge as Red Bull Supernatural Contest Window Opens February 3-8th
Updated rider list and course details unveiled

Santa Monica, CA (February 2, 2012) – Eighteen of the world’s best snowboarder’s are settling into Baldface Lodge tonight, as the holding period for Red Bull Supernatural begins. On only one day between today and February 8th, the 18 will be the first riders to drop into Travis Rice’s dream snowboard run, competing to find out who is the best all-around snowboarder on the planet. Red Bull Supernatural is a first-of-its-kind, backcountry snowboard competition, challenging riders’ big mountain, freeride, slopestyle and big air talents all in one spectacular run.

“Scary Cherry,” the run in Baldface’s tenure that’s been enhanced to host Red Bull Supernatural, features a variety of slope angles and natural features. It starts off with an extremely steep, over-40 degree slope angle providing big mountain terrain before tapering to 35 degrees where most of the 80+ wooden platforms and other features have been built. Midway it flattens out into a bench providing the perfect location for Rice’s dream 300’ wide kicker with a fresh powder landing zone. After the kicker, the slope drops to a 30 degree pitch where esteemed terrain park builder J.P. Martin, working with Rice for inspiration, planted a garden of innovative slopestyle features.

“Inspiration for the course design came from nature, straight up, and the crazy features that I’ve seen people ride,” Rice explains. “You have to have terrain that compliments freestyle riding on all-mountain terrain, which is why we built this course from scratch. There’s no limit on what is possible with a little creativity and some will.”

The rider list features the additions of wild card winners Mark McMorris and Sage Kotsenburg, both 18-years old and global slopestyle leaders. Also this week, Canadian Mark Sollors has been confirmed to replace Wolfgang Nyvelt, who was forced to drop out by an injury.

Red Bull Supernatural Confirmed Rider List:
David Carrier-Porcheron   CAN
Devun Walsh   CAN
Eero Niemela   FIN
Gigi Ruff   AUT
Jake Blauvelt   USA
John Jackson   USA
Kazu Kokubo   JPN
Lucas Debari   USA
Mark Carter   USA
Mark Landvik   USA
Nicolas Müller    SUI
Erik Jackson   USA
Scotty Lago   USA
Terje Håkonsen   NOR
Travis Rice   USA
Mark Sollors   CAN
Mark McMorris  CAN
Sage Kotsenburg USA

For photos, video and updates on Red Bull Supernatural, please visit www.redbullusa.com/supernatural.  Fans in the U.S. can tune-in March 31st to catch the two-hour Red Bull Supernatural special airing nationally on NBC from 1-3pm EST.  The event airs as part of a new sports programming block called the “Red Bull Signature Series” which features the most progressive snowboarding, mountain biking, freestyle motocross, skiing and BMX events. For more information, visit www.redbullsignatureseries.com.