Park City, UT – While it’s still months away, a group of America’s most talented snowboarding youth are already preparing after recently being named to the 2010 Junior World Championship team, which will compete in New Zealand August 21-31.n”All of these athletes have worked extremely hard this season to qualify for Junior Worlds. We are excited about this group of athletes and look forward to a great event in New Zealand,” U.S. Snowboarding Program Manager Abbi Nyberg said.

The action kicks off on Aug. 21 at Snow Park NZ with the first slopestyle event to be held in the history of Junior World Championships. Look for Rev Tour overall slopestyle champions Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, Alaska) and Caty O’Connor (Auburn, Calif.) to lead the charge for the U.S.

From there Cardrona picks up snowboardcross on the 22nd. Olympian Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, Utah) will be hitting the slope hard for the women’s competition. Roger Carver (Placerville, Calif.) Derek Dicastro (Rome, N.Y.) and Alex Tuttle (Stratton, Maine) will represent the men.

Cardrona Alpine Resort keeps it going on the 25th and the young but fierce Maddy Schaffrick (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) is going to use the skills she harnessed in 2010 going head to head with pros like Kelly Clark (West Dover, Vt.) and Hannah Teter (Belmont, Vt.). Schaffrick finished the 2010 season with three top-10 finishes at the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix.

The competition moves on to Treble Cone ski area August 26-27 for parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom. Mack Joyce (Laconia, N.H.), Hunter Murphy (Deephaven, Minn.), Megan Graham (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Cassie Wagar (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) will represent the U.S.

And a big air will close out the Junior World Championships August 31 in Cardrona.

2010 U.S. JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

Men
Dash Kamp, Sandpoint, ID
Ryan Stassel, Anchorage, AK
Nick Sibayan, Wrightwood, CA

Women
Mikaela Casey, Mound, MN
Caty O’Connor, Auburn, CA
Lauren Tamposi, Hollis, NH

Halfpipe

Men
Paul Brichta, Burnsville, MN
Benjamin Farrow, Mt. Holly, VT
Cody Weselis, Park City, UT

Women
Jenna Dramise, Henderson, NV
Rainey Pogue, Jackson, WY
Maddy Schaffrick, Steamboat Springs, CO
Shelby Simpson, Bondville, VT

Snowboardcross

Men
Roger Carver, Placerville, CA
Derek Dicastro, Rome, NY
Alex Tuttle, Stratton, ME

Women
Chloe Banning, Steamboat Springs, CO
Jenna Feldman, Linwood, NJ
Faye Gulini, Salt Lake City
Jackie Hernandez, Londonderry, VT

Alpine

Men
Mack Joyce, Laconia, NH
Hunter Murphy, Deephaven, MN

Women
Meghan Graham, Minnetonka, MN
Cassie Wagar, Steamboat Springs, CO