New York, NY – SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS has again teamed up with Snow Monsters, a national ski and snowboard program for kids, to find young athletes who best represent the next generation of extreme skiers and snowboarders. On Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m. ET, NBC Sports will telecast the finals of the second annual SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS NextSnow SEARCH, which were held in Keystone, CO, February 11-13. The one-hour program will showcase the finalists (ages 9-14) executing big air jumps, bumps, racing and multi-twisting half-pipe tricks in an all-mountain test of skill. For a sneak peek of the show, visit: http://www.sikids.com/news/video/nextsnow/index.html

More than 150 kids competed in the finals of the season-long SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS NextSnow SEARCH, the first all-mountain competition featuring both skiers and snowboarders. The athletes who vied for the honor of being named to the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS NextSnow Team and for individual awards represented more than 70 resorts from 20 states and one Canadian province.

Named to the team were 25 of North America’s top young skiers and snowboarders. The selection of the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS NextSnow Team marks the culmination of a series of freeride competitions that have been taking place at U.S. and Canadian resorts throughout the winter.

To promote the program, NBC’S Weekend TODAY show will feature a live remote from Killington, Vermont on Saturday morning. The segment will feature some of the NextSnow finalists who will demonstrate their amazing skiing/snowboarding abilities.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS, the first sports magazine written for kids ages 8 and up, connects with its readers through their passion for sports. The magazine offers kids the access to athletes and sports information that they want with in-depth reporting, action photography, first-person athlete accounts and other features. The magazine, books and web site, www.sikids.com, promote positive values, good sportsmanship and the fun of reading.

SNOW MONSTERS™ is the national ski & snowboard program for kids. Snow Monsters™ promotes on-snow safety, courtesy, an active outdoor lifestyle, environmental respect, and respect for other people. It is endorsed by the National Ski Areas Association, SnowSports Industries America, Professional Ski Instructors of America, American Association of Snowboard Instructors, National Ski Patrol, and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Teams. www.snowmonsters.com