Shaun White to host Heavenly's High Roller Hold 'Em big air competition at Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Mountain Resort at south shore Lake Tahoe is playing its ace this spring, partnering with Snow Park Technologies and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White to host High Roller Hold ’Em, the industry’s most high-energy, innovative big air competition.

The casino-inspired event means there's $50,000 at stake. It will combine the thrill of a high-flying big air competition with the cunning strategy of Texas Hold ‘Em poker. Throw in a live DJ, fireworks, laser lights and the Heavenly Angels, and this will be an epic party befitting Lake Tahoe’s south shore.

“What better place to combine the thrills of snowboarding and poker than Heavenly,” said White in a news release from Heavenly. “South Lake Tahoe is a pretty unique destination and this event is the brainchild of my friend Chris Gunnarson who is very talented and a huge part of snowboarding. I'm going to go all in and say, it's gonna’ go off."

High Roller Hold ’Em will take place on the World Cup run at Heavenly on Saturday, April 6, 2013, with a monster big-air jump created by SPT, which is known for building the world’s top competition venues, including ESPN’s Winter X Games. In this unique poker-style format, each rider will be dealt two cards (three in the super final) with each card featuring a different trick. Each rider will then bet on the trick of their choice and must execute the trick during that jump to win that round. The rider that lands the trick with the highest level of difficulty will win that round and qualify for the big cash in the super final.

“With Lake Tahoe providing one of the most spectacular backdrops in the world, Heavenly is an amazing venue for big-air competitions like High Roller Hold ’Em,” said Chris Gunnarson, SPT’s president. “After the success of the Nike Chosen event last year, you can bet your whole stack that we’re going to take the competition and the party to the next level. This format breaks the traditional mold for big air competitions and incorporates a mental strategy to compliment the riders’ physical talent.”

“This is one giant, unprecedented party for both athletes and spectators that only Heavenly can pull off,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “We’re firmly planting a stake in the ground that Heavenly is the place to go for the most high-energy winter vacation you’ve ever had.”

Some of the world’s top professional snowboarders will compete in this high-production, signature night-time event, which will also feature live DJ music, an exhibition with local athletes, and pyrotechnics. Red Bull and GoPro are sponsoring the event, which is slated to stream live on ESPN3.