March 10, 2004,South Lake Tahoe, CA – Professional Snowboarder Kurt Wastell has joined the THE BLOCK hotel’s partnership team. The BLOCK is a 50 room hotel located in South Lake Tahoe, CA founded by Professional Snowboarder, Marc Frank Montoya and veteran hotelier Liko S. Smith. The hotel has two second story decks, room balconies with exterior music, a rooftop hot tub, free high speed access and wireless terminals as well as complimentary CLIF BARS, "Whoop Ass" energy drinks and Campbell’s "Soup at Hand" for all guests. In room amenities include cordless phones, CD players, DVD/game consoles and coffee makers. It is the world’s first snowboarder hotel which includes 10 Signature rooms by sponsors such as Vivid Video, Transworld Snowboardng Magazine, Flow bindings, Zoo York, Spy Optic, Section Outerwear, MFM, Roxy Clothing, and Jones Soda Co.

"Kurt believes in what we’re doing, he’s stayed at the hotel numerous times along with Chris Coulter and Andreas Wiig and I think it says something about the hotel" says Liko S. Smith, managing partner of THE BLOCK. "The true test for us is to continue to provide an experience that’s relevant for boarders, getting Kurt, one of the legends of the sport, will help us to stay true to Marc’s vision of a place where snowboarders are kings" he adds.