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ENLARGE
A U.S. Open big air competition finalist gets some air in the second round of jumps as light snow falls last season at Copper Mountain.
SUMMIT COUNTY — With the High Country’s winter sports season gearing up, Copper Mountain hopes for gold, white gold that is, and a snowy continuation from last year’s stellar ski and snowboard season.
And what a winter it will be. Copper recently announced their 2008-09 athletic event schedule, featuring the season-long Copper Series amateur competitions, the USSA Snowboarding Grand Prix, the Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games, and more.
According to David Roth, public relations coordinator for Copper Mountain, the resort’s superpipe has opened first in the U.S. for the past three seasons, drawing athletes to the county to train on the local pipe before other mountains open. Roth hopes this season will continue that tradition.
“It’s a pro show for a few weeks,” Roth added of the superpipe’s early season start.
Another draw returning to Copper is the USSA Snowboarding Grand Prix, Dec. 12–13, Roth said, where top international snowboarders compete during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour. The event includes traditional men’s and women’s halfpipe competitions and a nighttime exhibition event, the Paul Mitchell Progression Session.
This season also marks the 21st year in a row that Copper will host the Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games, March 29-30.
The resort is the official winter training site for all Colorado-based winter Special Olympics athletes.
Copper will hold the USASA Nationals, April 3–11, for the second year in a row, Roth added. Top regional finishers will compete from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom for the National Champions title.
Last year’s event attracted up to 1,600 competitors. The USASA is a grassroots snowboard organization with more than 5,000 members and 500 events in 36 regional series across the U.S.
For more information, including detailed schedules, competition groups and more, visit www.usasa.org.
Copper’s opening day is scheduled for Nov. 14. Closing day is slated for April 19.
Copper’s winter 2008-09 events line-up:
USSA Race to the Cup GS — NORAM, Nov. 18-19
Top junior riders from North America compete with Olympians and National Teams in alpine snowboard races. Athletes compete for $3,000 in prize money. This event has been held at Copper for 20-plus years. For more information and registration, visit www.copperseries.com.
7th annual Leftover Yam & Jive Turkey Rail Jam,
Nov. 28
Locals and regional athletes of all ages and levels will compete in the first rail jam of the winter. The event is held in the Eagle Jib Park. Helmets are required. More rail dates for the season will be announced. Registration will be available online for free at www.coppercolorado.com.
Gobbler Chase Snowshoe Race, Nov. 29
This 5K event benefits Advocates for Victims of Assault. Register online at www.villageatcopper.com.
USSA Snowboarding Grand Prix, Dec. 12–13
Top snowboarders will compete for the overall winner title during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour.
The Paul Mitchell Progression Session at Copper Mountain will also be held at night.
For more information, visit www.ussnowboarding.com/grandprix.
Copper Series — Dec. 21; Jan. 10-11, 23-25, 30; Feb. 1, 7-8, 21-22; March 1 and 8
The USASA Copper Mountain Series is the largest and longest running amateur snowboard series in North America. Celebrating 22 years of competition, athletes may enter slalom, giant slalom, slopestyle, halfpipe and boardercross.
Copper Series events are held throughout the season. For online registration and details, visit www.copperseries.com. Freeride events are open to snowboarders and skiers.
USSA Revolution Tour, Jan. 14–17
The U.S. Snowboarding Revolution Tour is a juniors competition that identifies top contenders from the region.
Superpipe and slopestyle athletes, 13-and-older, and snowboard cross, 15-and-older, compete together in an open-class style event.
USSA regional membership is required for competition and an FIS license or FIS provisional license is also required for snowboard cross events. For more details, visit www.copperseries.com.
Colorado Special Olympics Winter Games, March 29-30
The Special Olympics Winter Games is Copper’s culmination of the winter sports season for the 550-plus athletes who compete in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, snowshoeing and snowboarding.
This season is the 21st consecutive year Copper Mountain will host the Winter Games.
USASA Nationals, April 3–11
Each year, the top regional finishers are invited to attend the USASA National Championships to compete against some of the best male and female athletes from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom.
Thousands of athletes, plus family members and friends, are expected to attend, Roth said.
This event calendar is subject to change and is weather dependent.
Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.
And what a winter it will be. Copper recently announced their 2008-09 athletic event schedule, featuring the season-long Copper Series amateur competitions, the USSA Snowboarding Grand Prix, the Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games, and more.
According to David Roth, public relations coordinator for Copper Mountain, the resort’s superpipe has opened first in the U.S. for the past three seasons, drawing athletes to the county to train on the local pipe before other mountains open. Roth hopes this season will continue that tradition.
“It’s a pro show for a few weeks,” Roth added of the superpipe’s early season start.
Another draw returning to Copper is the USSA Snowboarding Grand Prix, Dec. 12–13, Roth said, where top international snowboarders compete during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour. The event includes traditional men’s and women’s halfpipe competitions and a nighttime exhibition event, the Paul Mitchell Progression Session.
This season also marks the 21st year in a row that Copper will host the Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games, March 29-30.
The resort is the official winter training site for all Colorado-based winter Special Olympics athletes.
Copper will hold the USASA Nationals, April 3–11, for the second year in a row, Roth added. Top regional finishers will compete from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom for the National Champions title.
Last year’s event attracted up to 1,600 competitors. The USASA is a grassroots snowboard organization with more than 5,000 members and 500 events in 36 regional series across the U.S.
For more information, including detailed schedules, competition groups and more, visit www.usasa.org.
Copper’s opening day is scheduled for Nov. 14. Closing day is slated for April 19.
Copper’s winter 2008-09 events line-up:
USSA Race to the Cup GS — NORAM, Nov. 18-19
Top junior riders from North America compete with Olympians and National Teams in alpine snowboard races. Athletes compete for $3,000 in prize money. This event has been held at Copper for 20-plus years. For more information and registration, visit www.copperseries.com.
7th annual Leftover Yam & Jive Turkey Rail Jam,
Nov. 28
Locals and regional athletes of all ages and levels will compete in the first rail jam of the winter. The event is held in the Eagle Jib Park. Helmets are required. More rail dates for the season will be announced. Registration will be available online for free at www.coppercolorado.com.
Gobbler Chase Snowshoe Race, Nov. 29
This 5K event benefits Advocates for Victims of Assault. Register online at www.villageatcopper.com.
USSA Snowboarding Grand Prix, Dec. 12–13
Top snowboarders will compete for the overall winner title during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour.
The Paul Mitchell Progression Session at Copper Mountain will also be held at night.
For more information, visit www.ussnowboarding.com/grandprix.
Copper Series — Dec. 21; Jan. 10-11, 23-25, 30; Feb. 1, 7-8, 21-22; March 1 and 8
The USASA Copper Mountain Series is the largest and longest running amateur snowboard series in North America. Celebrating 22 years of competition, athletes may enter slalom, giant slalom, slopestyle, halfpipe and boardercross.
Copper Series events are held throughout the season. For online registration and details, visit www.copperseries.com. Freeride events are open to snowboarders and skiers.
USSA Revolution Tour, Jan. 14–17
The U.S. Snowboarding Revolution Tour is a juniors competition that identifies top contenders from the region.
Superpipe and slopestyle athletes, 13-and-older, and snowboard cross, 15-and-older, compete together in an open-class style event.
USSA regional membership is required for competition and an FIS license or FIS provisional license is also required for snowboard cross events. For more details, visit www.copperseries.com.
Colorado Special Olympics Winter Games, March 29-30
The Special Olympics Winter Games is Copper’s culmination of the winter sports season for the 550-plus athletes who compete in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, snowshoeing and snowboarding.
This season is the 21st consecutive year Copper Mountain will host the Winter Games.
USASA Nationals, April 3–11
Each year, the top regional finishers are invited to attend the USASA National Championships to compete against some of the best male and female athletes from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom.
Thousands of athletes, plus family members and friends, are expected to attend, Roth said.
This event calendar is subject to change and is weather dependent.
Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.
