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Throwdown showdown returns to Nelson

Next week Powder Magazine is starting round one of this year’s version of the Ski Town Throwdown.
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Whitewater is included among 64 best places to ski in this year's version of Powder Magazine's Ski Town Throwdown. Last year

Get ready to throw it down — again!

With ski season still a skiff of powder away, next week Powder Magazine is starting round one of this year’s version of the Ski Town Throwdown.

Starting Monday, Whitewater Ski Resort is again in the running after taking top honours along with Rossland’s Red Mountain in last season’s Throwdown. Paired together, the local hills were voted Best Ski Town out of 32 throughout North America in an online competition embraced by lovers of the local ski scene.

Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism’s executive director Dianna Ducs said winning last year’s honours has helped bring tourists to the community.

“It absolutely benefitted us,” she said. “Whitewater got some big recognition as a top place to ski.”

This year, the powerhouse Whitewater and Rossland combo have been split up and will enter the Throwdown on their own, possibly facing each other. Entered in the Great White North division featuring ski hills from BC, Alberta and Alaska, Whitewater is pegged against Kelowna’s Big White in round one. Rossland takes on Kimberley.

Whitewater will be leading the charge this year, campaigning for their hill. Last year, the push for votes proved intense as the competition called for daily reminders to cast an online vote via Facebook. Even Mayor John Dooley made his rounds, iPad in tow, asking for people to vote. Ducs said it’s really up to the community whether they want to embrace the Throwdown in 2013.

“We are thankful for their passion and support last year,” she said.

In Powder’s November issue, they ranked the top 64 places to ski powder taking into consideration vertical snowfall, skiable area and whether the hill was too packed with people. These places are all included in this year’s Throwdown. Other divisions include Big East, Rocky Mountain West and Far East.

The Best Ski Town will be decided when the final two hills battle it out and voting closes on December 16.