The North Face Ski Challenge is to evolve into a pan-European qualifying tour, climaxing with finals in Val Thorens, France, on April 12-13, 2008. It will now include category competitions for girls, as well as boys, aged 12-18.

VP/general manager, Patrik Frisk said, “We are sponsoring the expanded Ski Challenge tour and finals to celebrate Europe’s undiscovered, young prodigies, and to give them a chance to rise to the top of their chosen specialities.”

The tour will include nine grassroots-style qualifying sessions in both freeride and freestyle ski categories, running from November 2007 to April 2008. Qualifying events are scheduled to take place in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. 

All category winners will receive prizes and giveaways from the California-based outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear company, and the top two finishers in both boys and girls, 16-18-year-old categories, will also win sponsorship contracts.