An interesting and unforeseeable outcome of the oil boom years and the subsequent Exxon Valdez oil spill was a discovery among new arrivals and work crews of the undeveloped world-class ski terrain surrounding Valdez. In 1989, the first helicopter-assisted skiing took place and, from there, word spread quickly within the emerging "extreme" sports world. The following year, an all-volunteer, shoestring event starring free-skiers from around the world took place. This event grew into the World Extreme Skiing Championships, held annually until 2000. Over the course of that decade, Valdez became well known as a winter destination for expert skiers. The Valdez mountains were frequently featured in major ski publications, including Powder, Couloir, and Backcountry Skier. Videos and ski movies with footage of the terrain increased exposure for Valdez. This collection of memorabilia contains the winner's cups, scrap books and photo albums of each year's event, magazines with feature articles, and a complete set of signed posters, caps, pins, and other promotional items.