Athletes and Spectators Deemed McDonald's Rail Session Huge Success
WHISTLER, BC - A massive crowd filled the square at the base of Whistler Mountain this weekend for the first ever McDonald's Rail Session, which invited 10 pro skiers and 10 pro boarders to compete together in a nighttime urban rail jam for $10,000 in prize money. The McDonald's Rail Session was part of the action-packed final weekend of the legendary TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival.
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The crowd was thrilled when Justin Timberlake made a surprise appearance to present the awards at the McDonald's Rail Session. This was Timberlake's second surprise of the day - he joined The Black Eyed Peas earlier that afternoon during a free performance for an estimated 12,000 fans on the DKNY//JEANS Concert Stage in Whistler village.
Mixing snowsports with street cool, the McDonald's Rail Session was a scintillating display of ski and board jibbing, mixed with deft DJ beats and sexy pyrotechnic dancers. From the athletes' amazing skills to the cheers from the crowd, an energetic vibe filled the night sky over Whistler during the event.
Ronald McDonald himself kicked off the action by sliding the 27-foot long double-kinked rail and landed in the history books for the first ever rail slide by the famous clown. The pro skiers and riders followed with stellar slopestyle moves, laying down every kind of imaginable spin and technically demanding tricks on and off the rail.
Iannick B. and Sarah Burke took first in the ski category, while Jesse Fox and Leanne Pelosi won the snowboarding class. "It was a talented field of riders and skiers," said Head Snowboard Judge, Remi Laliberté. "Big amplitude and technically demanding tricks is what set the winners apart from the rest of the field," said Josh Loubek, Head Ski Judge.
"I've always liked rails the best," said Iannick B., "and I was totally surprise to have Timberlake there." "Winning is great and I loved meeting Justin," said Leanne Pelosi.