BARTLETT, New Hampshire ??” January 8, Attitash will host the 2006 Sports Illustrated For Kids’ Next Snow SEARCH, a national talent search to find young athletes who best represent the next generation of all-around extreme skiers and snowboarders.

Competitors, ages 9-13, will go head to head in a mini slopestyle event, two timed runs through Attitash’s Race Arena (recreational GS – Giant Slalom) and a third “surprise” event to be announced on the day of the competition. Combined scores from the three events will determine the winner and the top two will move on to compete in the finals at Killington Resort, March 3-5. Attitash is one of 70 resorts across the nation hosting qualifying events.

“This is a unique competition in that it is set up to select the best all-around participant. The three different style events give competitors an opportunity to showcase their talents in multiple ways,” said Heidi Duffy, Attitash events coordinator.

Last year Tucker Perkins, then a member of the Attitash Freeride Team, went on to compete in the finals at Keystone, Perkins placed fifth overall. Subsequently Perkins was featured in a June 2005 issue of Sports Illustrated, dedicated to the top 25 young athletes.

Registration is from 8:00am – 9:00am in the Alcove at the Attitash Base Lodge. Registration is $5.00 and a legal guardian must be present in order to sign release forms. Participating athletes will also be offered a lift ticket at the discounted rate of $25.00. For further details visit Attitash.com/events.

Attitash is in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on Rt. 302 in Bartlett. During the winter Attitash offers 2 mountains with 70 trails and 22 miles of skiing and riding on 280 acres. In the summer guests can enjoy North America’s longest Alpine Slides, waterslides, a scenic sky ride, lift-serviced mountain biking, climbing wall, Trampoline Thing, horseback rides, driving range and skate park.

Attitash is part of American Skiing Company (OTC: AESK), one of the largest four-season mountain resort operators in the United States. The resorts include The Canyons, UT; Killington and Mount Snow, VT; Steamboat, CO; and Sugarloaf/USA and Sunday River, ME. More information is available on the company’s website, www.attitash.com.