Swatch TTR Tour Partnerhip Announced

In one of the most significant partnerships in winter sports to date, Swatch, the world-renown Swiss watch brand, confirms its three-year participation as title partner of the leading global snowboard initiative, the Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour, from 2007-2010

SWATCH SIGNS UP AS TITLE SPONSOR OF TTR WORLD SNOWBOARD TOUR
Three-Year Strategic Deal Includes 250,000USD End Of Season Prize Purse

Zurich, Switzerland (October 2, 2007). In one of the most significant partnerships in winter sports to date, Swatch, the world-renown Swiss watch brand, confirms its three-year participation as title partner of the leading global snowboard initiative, the Ticket To Ride (TTR) World Snowboard Tour, from 2007-2010.

The Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour is an umbrella organisation for the most important freestyle snowboard contests around the globe. The world’s best snowboarders compete through the ten-month Tour with the aim to be crowned the male or female Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion, tallied by the Swatch TTR World Ranking System. Apart from prize money totalling over 2,000,000USD from participating events, the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour will present the top men and women in the Swatch TTR World Ranking List a share of 250,000USD – the largest end-of-season prize purse in the history of snowboarding.

‘Swatch has always been looking for exciting partnerships in the field of extreme and action sports. The TTR organisation and its new ways of defining modern snowboarding fits well to our brand’s core values such as constant innovation, joy of life and positive provocation. We are very happy to partner with the TTR World Snowboard Tour for three more years,’ states Nicolas G. Hayek, Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Directors of the Swatch Group.

‘After a very successful first year’s collaboration with Swatch, we are excited to take an historic step for the future of snowboarding and the progression of the sport. Swatch, one of the original brands involved in snowboarding, is the perfect partner to develop the TTR concept further. Our three-year partnership creates a solid base for us to build the most dynamic, recognized snowboard platform worldwide. This is a fantastic development for the Tour, the sport and, essentially, the riders,’ comments Hannes Schoenegger, Sponsorship Manager, Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour.

Swatch, part of the international Swatch Group based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, enjoys a long history within snowboarding. From its capacity as Official Timekeeper of events, to the creation of Swatch Snowboard Pro Team, to product innovations, including the Swatch Fun Boarder Collection equipped with the revolutionary Swatch Snowpass system – a built-in access function for use as a lift-pass in more than 600 winter resorts worldwide.

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Accompanied image is rights-free. Image shows Nicolas G. Hayek, Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Directors of the Swatch Group with Drew Stevenson, C.E.O. TTR World Snowboard Tour