Jacob Levine of Cherryfield, Maine, was recently
selected as the SNICKERS(R) Brand and Burton "Rover" - a year-long,
all-expense-paid position as the ambassador of board sports, making
appearances at popular parks, slopes and beaches throughout the United
States. The Rover made his first official appearance at the Burton
U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, which took place at Stratton
Mountain, Vt., March 17-19.
Thousands of riders applied to be The Rover, submitting applications and videos showcasing their action sports skills, trying to prove there is no "off season." Over the next year, Levine will live every amateur rider's dream as he hangs out with riders throughout the country, meets pros and demonstrates his skills at popular venues and extreme sports events, giving away tons of cool stuff from Rover sponsors along the way.
Since taking up snowboarding at the age of 12, Levine has been a sponsored athlete, competing in numerous competitions as well as coaching for four years. Until becoming The Rover, the University of Maine - Farmington senior served as head snowboard coach for Kent's Hill High School, a private academy in Maine. A certified United States of America Snowboard Association judge, Levine has worked in skate parks and skate shops and also taught skateboarding lessons.
Having faced a recent life-threatening injury, Levine has shown pure passion for life and not taking anything for granted. Several years ago, Levine broke his neck in a snowboarding accident and temporarily lost the use of his limbs. Unwilling to give up what he loved most, Levine made a miraculous recovery and doesn't let fear of injury stand in his way.
"I'm beyond excited to be picked as The Rover," says Levine. "Life can't get much more satisfying than traveling the country getting paid to do what I love most and representing two awesome brands. This is an incredible opportunity, and I can't wait to share this experience with riders across the country."
Along with handing out Burton gear, SNICKERS bars and tips on the latest in boarding essentials, Levine will meet up with riders at local shops and snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding events, including the Burton Demo Tour, the Burton Abominable Snow Jam and the Burton U.S. Open.
"We're stoked to give Jacob the chance to live the dream and look forward to hooking him up with the best gear on the hill," says Bryan Johnston, vice president of global marketing at Burton.
Levine will keep riders up to date with feedback on venues, local events and the latest news throughout the country through interviews, photos and blog postings to www.theonseason.com. Levine will be decked out in the latest gear from Burton, capturing every moment of the year with the latest electronic technology. Daily postings to his blog on www.onseason.com will allow riders to live the journey vicariously through The Rover.
In addition to hanging with amateurs, Levine will get a taste of living like a pro as he meets up with talented riders such as the Snickers-sponsored members of The Collection: Ross Powers, Kelly Clark, Gretchen Bleiler, Andy Finch, Luke Mitrani and Mason Aguirre.
"We're excited to be able to give an experience like this to a passionate youth who exemplifies the instant satisfaction lifestyle of the SNICKERS Brand," says Michele Kessler, vice president of marketing at Masterfoods USA. "We know that SNICKERS is loved by the riding community as an on-the-go candy bar that tastes great and gets them back out riding fast. The Rover campaign can spread enthusiasm by actively following the year-long ride."
Visit www.theonseason.com to follow the 2006 adventures and itinerary of The Rover.
About Masterfoods, USA
Masterfoods USA, the United States food, snack and petcare operations of Mars, Incorporated, is one of the world's leading food manufacturers. With more than $5 billion in annual sales, the combined food, snack and petcare segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Masterfoods USA employs more than 7,000 associates in the United States, with 15 manufacturing facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world's favorite brands, including M&M'S(R) Brand, SNICKERS(R) Brand, UNCLE BEN'S(R) Brand, PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food For Dogs and WHISKAS(R) Brand Food For Cats. For additional information please visit the Masterfoods USA Online Newsroom at www.masterfoodsnews.com.
About Burton
Burton Snowboards is a pure snowboard company solely dedicated to creating and perfecting a full range of the best snowboarding equipment and apparel. Founded in 1977, Burton has fueled the growth of snowboarding worldwide through its team of top snowboarders and successful programs such as Learn To Ride (LTR), the Chill Foundation and the Open Snowboarding Championships. Privately held and headquartered in Burlington, Vermont with international offices in Innsbruck, Austria and Tokyo, Japan, Burton has been the industry market share leader since its inception. www.burton.com
Thousands of riders applied to be The Rover, submitting applications and videos showcasing their action sports skills, trying to prove there is no "off season." Over the next year, Levine will live every amateur rider's dream as he hangs out with riders throughout the country, meets pros and demonstrates his skills at popular venues and extreme sports events, giving away tons of cool stuff from Rover sponsors along the way.
Since taking up snowboarding at the age of 12, Levine has been a sponsored athlete, competing in numerous competitions as well as coaching for four years. Until becoming The Rover, the University of Maine - Farmington senior served as head snowboard coach for Kent's Hill High School, a private academy in Maine. A certified United States of America Snowboard Association judge, Levine has worked in skate parks and skate shops and also taught skateboarding lessons.
Having faced a recent life-threatening injury, Levine has shown pure passion for life and not taking anything for granted. Several years ago, Levine broke his neck in a snowboarding accident and temporarily lost the use of his limbs. Unwilling to give up what he loved most, Levine made a miraculous recovery and doesn't let fear of injury stand in his way.
"I'm beyond excited to be picked as The Rover," says Levine. "Life can't get much more satisfying than traveling the country getting paid to do what I love most and representing two awesome brands. This is an incredible opportunity, and I can't wait to share this experience with riders across the country."
Along with handing out Burton gear, SNICKERS bars and tips on the latest in boarding essentials, Levine will meet up with riders at local shops and snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding events, including the Burton Demo Tour, the Burton Abominable Snow Jam and the Burton U.S. Open.
"We're stoked to give Jacob the chance to live the dream and look forward to hooking him up with the best gear on the hill," says Bryan Johnston, vice president of global marketing at Burton.
Levine will keep riders up to date with feedback on venues, local events and the latest news throughout the country through interviews, photos and blog postings to www.theonseason.com. Levine will be decked out in the latest gear from Burton, capturing every moment of the year with the latest electronic technology. Daily postings to his blog on www.onseason.com will allow riders to live the journey vicariously through The Rover.
In addition to hanging with amateurs, Levine will get a taste of living like a pro as he meets up with talented riders such as the Snickers-sponsored members of The Collection: Ross Powers, Kelly Clark, Gretchen Bleiler, Andy Finch, Luke Mitrani and Mason Aguirre.
"We're excited to be able to give an experience like this to a passionate youth who exemplifies the instant satisfaction lifestyle of the SNICKERS Brand," says Michele Kessler, vice president of marketing at Masterfoods USA. "We know that SNICKERS is loved by the riding community as an on-the-go candy bar that tastes great and gets them back out riding fast. The Rover campaign can spread enthusiasm by actively following the year-long ride."
Visit www.theonseason.com to follow the 2006 adventures and itinerary of The Rover.
About Masterfoods, USA
Masterfoods USA, the United States food, snack and petcare operations of Mars, Incorporated, is one of the world's leading food manufacturers. With more than $5 billion in annual sales, the combined food, snack and petcare segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Masterfoods USA employs more than 7,000 associates in the United States, with 15 manufacturing facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world's favorite brands, including M&M'S(R) Brand, SNICKERS(R) Brand, UNCLE BEN'S(R) Brand, PEDIGREE(R) Brand Food For Dogs and WHISKAS(R) Brand Food For Cats. For additional information please visit the Masterfoods USA Online Newsroom at www.masterfoodsnews.com.
About Burton
Burton Snowboards is a pure snowboard company solely dedicated to creating and perfecting a full range of the best snowboarding equipment and apparel. Founded in 1977, Burton has fueled the growth of snowboarding worldwide through its team of top snowboarders and successful programs such as Learn To Ride (LTR), the Chill Foundation and the Open Snowboarding Championships. Privately held and headquartered in Burlington, Vermont with international offices in Innsbruck, Austria and Tokyo, Japan, Burton has been the industry market share leader since its inception. www.burton.com