LUDLOW, Vermont — It’s a dream-come-true for snowboarders and skiers ??В¦ to hang out and cruise with an Olympic gold medalist and on-snow legend. Okemo Mountain Resort Snowboard Ambassador Ross Powers will be at Okemo for a Ride with Ross Day, Wednesday, Feb. 20.

From 9 a.m. to noon, anyone visiting Okemo can spend the morning riding with Ross. This event is open to the public at no charge. He may take a few runs through the SoBe Superpipe or go freeriding down the slopes. It’s all up to the skiers and riders who meet up with him near the “Ride with Ross” banner at the bottom of the superpipe at 9 a.m. It’s a great way to hear, first-hand, about competing on an international level and maybe get a pointer or two from the ultimate pro (or as the resort likes to refer to him ??“ their resident prokemo).

Owner of more halfpipe titles than any other rider in history, including a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and a 1998 Olympic bronze medal, Powers now has his sights set on making the U.S. snowboardcross team and competing in the 2010 Games. In addition to making numerous personal appearances at Okemo events throughout the season, Powers will be running a snowboard camp in March to benefit the Ross Powers Foundation, a non-profit organization for athletes with financial need.

“Okemo is an awesome family resort with great terrain parks,” said Powers. “There’s a commitment to building and maintaining parks and pipes and Okemo traditionally is the first in the East to open its superpipe. It’s a place where I can train and it’s a comfortable mountain where I can raise my family.” Ross and his wife, Marisa have two daughters, Victoria and Meredith. They recently moved to Ludlow to be closer to the mountain.

Powers was born and raised in Londonderry, Vt. Considered snowboarding’s first child prodigy, he competed in his first U.S. Open competition at the age of 9 with his fourth grade class in attendance. He competed in nationals the next year and was a world champion before his 18th birthday. In 1998, he represented the U.S. in Nagano taking home the first Olympic halfpipe medal for the U.S. Powers dominates the snowboard world having won almost every title in snowboarding, including Olympic gold in 2002.

For more information, please call (802) 228-1600, or visit www.okemo.com.