Subaru Presents the 2000 Subaru Gorge Games
20 June 2000
Official Car of the Outdoors Is Title Sponsor of Outdoor Sports and Lifestyle Festival
CHERRY HILL, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc., a pioneer of crossover
all-wheel drive vehicles designed for the active lifestyle driver, is the
official title sponsor of the 2000 Subaru Gorge Games. This ultimate showcase
for amateur and professional outdoor athletes takes place from July 8-15, 2000
in the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, Ore.
More than 2,000 of the globe's best professional and amateur athletes from
the worlds of mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, windsurfing,
kiteboarding, outrigger canoeing and off-road triathlon will compete in the
week-long celebration of outdoor sports. World-class athletes competing in
the Subaru Gorge Games include: Missy Giove and Tara Llanes, mountain biking;
John Stamstad, 24-hour race; Katie Brown and Chris Sharma, climbing; Jonathon
and Charlie McKee, 49er sailing; and Tao Berman, kayaking. Highlight events
at the 2000 Subaru Gorge Games include:
-- Mount Hood Ski Bowl: This downhill, head-to-head dual race and a
24-hour race will keep mountain bikers on a track full of adventure
on July 8 and 9.
-- Windsurfing: This freestyle event will sweep contestants away in the
Columbia River Gorge on the first windy day between July 10 and 14.
-- Trail Run: Leave the road behind as athletes run a 10K and half
marathon race on Burdoin Mountain in White Salmon, Wash. on July 8.
-- Outrigger Canoe: Competitors will paddle challenge the rough waters in
traditional Hawaiian-like boat races on July 8 and 9 at Port of
Skamania Pier in Stevenson.
-- Kayaking: The White Salmon River in Husum River will host the
freestyle and head-to-head competitions on July 8 and 9. The all-out
extreme race will follow on July 13 with the top 12 men and top 6
women qualifiers.
-- Off-Road Triathlon: Endurance and concentration will be tested with
the triple crown of mountain biking, rough water swim and trail run
on July 15. Kickoff begins at the National Geographic Adventure
Village.
The Subaru Gorge Games will be televised by NBC Sports and will air
September 3 and 10, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., EDT. Dual mountain biking, head-to-
head kayak and freestyle, extreme kayak, 49er sailing, kiteboarding,
windsurfing freestyle and outrigger canoe highlight the network's coverage as
well as features on the event's top athletes.
"We approached Subaru to be our title sponsor because we wanted to partner
with a company that is committed to the outdoors 365 days a year and supports
outdoor sports at the grass roots level," said Peggy Lalor, Subaru Gorge Games
director. "Subaru has sponsored the Games since our inception in 1996. The
company holds hundreds of events all year helping to increase awareness of
these unique sports while encouraging responsible use of the wilderness.
We're proud to have them on board and look forward to a long and successful
partnership."
"The Subaru Gorge Games provides a showcase for the finest professional
and amateur outdoor athletes in the world," said Bill Cyphers, vice president
of marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. "Subaru owners are `doers,' and enjoy a
wide range of outdoor sports rather than sit on the sidelines. Subaru is a
proud title sponsor and supporter of the Gorge Games' active lifestyle
participants who personify the central themes of the Subaru brand -- fun,
freedom, adventure, confidence and control."
In addition to the outdoor games, Subaru is sponsoring the Subaru Gorge
Games Leave No Trace Benefit Concert featuring the popular alternative-rock
band, Big Head Todd & The Monsters. The outdoor concert takes place on
July 15, 2000 at The Marina in Bingen, Wash. Concert goers can purchase
tickets for $25 in advance at the Subaru Gorge Games official website,
http://www.gorgegames.com, TicketMaster and Waucoma Books. Tickets will also be
available for $30 at the gate. All Subaru automobiles can park free at onsite
parking facilities until the lot is full.
Subaru Supports Outdoor Activities and Conservation
A longtime supporter of various outdoor non-profit and cause-related
programs, Subaru is the official vehicle of more than 18 outdoors
organizations including the American Canoe Association, the National Ski
Patrol, Professional Ski Instructors of America, Cross Country Ski Areas
Association and American Association of Snowboard Instructors. Subaru has
also forged strategic partnerships with the International Mountain Biking
Association, Specialized(R) Bicycle Components, and Leave No Trace.
The Beauty of Subaru All-Wheel Drive
Simply put, if the outdoors were a car it would be a Subaru. Subaru, a
leader in all-wheel drive technology, provides drivers with superior
performance in all types of conditions -- essential for transporting outdoor
sports enthusiasts to the river, the mountains and those "off the beaten path"
destinations with safety and confidence.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company
markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a
network of 590 franchised dealers across the United States. All Legacy and
Outback models sold in the U.S. are produced at the company's American
manufacturing plant, Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc., near Lafayette, Ind.
Over the past eight years, the company has nearly tripled its revenues and
seen its sales increase by nearly 100 percent thanks to its popular line of
car-based sport utility vehicles. The company is among the fastest growing
brands in the automobile industry and was recently named "Most Improved Car
Company in the World" by the London-based Financial Times Automotive World
Magazine.