FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

An 18-year-old from Pincher Creek, Alberta has become the first person to descend Mount Haig at Alberta’s Castle Mountain Resort in a stunning feat captured on camera and featured in a new Warren Miller film tour.

Pincher Creek resident Pete Hodgson answers the elusive question “Where is the Secret Castle?” in the upcoming 12-minute feature of the same name, presented by Travel Alberta in partnership with Ski the World Productions Inc., the exclusive Canadian distributor of Warren Miller Films.

Hodgson stars as the first person to conquer the treacherous East Face of Mount Haig, carving its slopes from peak to base in four minutes.

His descent of the 3,500-vertical-foot, 45-degree drop is all the more impressive, when he encounters an unexpected 79 ½ foot cliff during the descent! And it was captured on HDTV video in an historic shoot at Castle Mountain Resort — revered grounds for extreme skiers, snowboarders, and winter enthusiasts of all abilities.

“Warren Miller will definitely put Castle Mountain and Alberta on the map,” said Andrew Rusynyk of Castle Mountain Resort. “This is a really a big coup for us.”

This 12-minute short film will open the new Warren Miller feature film Off the Grid as it tours across Canada in six locations beginning October 27 through to November 26, 2006. Host cities include: Toronto (Oct. 27 & 28), Vancouver (Oct. 27-29), Calgary (Nov. 3 & 4), Ottawa (Nov. 18), Edmonton (Nov. 24), and Montreal (Nov. 26).

“This is another example of how seeing an Alberta attraction on the big screen encourages people to come visit Alberta,” said Alberta Economic Development Minister Clint Dunford.
Warren Miller films have entertained generations with incredible skiing and snowboarding displays in stunning settings around the globe. Fifty million viewers worldwide will see Warren Miller’s annual feature when it is released in the coming weeks.

Warren Miller Entertainment last filmed in Alberta in 2004 and featured Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, and Marmot Basin.

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For more information contact:
Noelle Aune, Director, Travel Media and Public Relations
Travel Alberta International Inc.
Phone: (403) 509-2525
Cell: (403) 669-2947
Email: noelle.aune@travelalberta.com