South Lake Tahoe, CA –The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) announced Thursday that the U.S. Freestyle Championships will return to California’s Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe for the 2013 and 2014 ski seasons. A spectator-friendly venue, Heavenly will play perfect host to men’s and women’s aerials, dual moguls and moguls events beginning March 29-31, 2013.

Heavenly last hosted the championships in 2004 and is one of only a handful of resorts to do so two years in a row. Recent peers include Stratton Mountain Resort in Vermont (2011, 2012), Squaw Valley in California (2009, 2010) and Killington Resort in Vermont (2006, 2007).

With a deep seeded heritage in freestyle skiing, the resort promises two more good shows in the upcoming years. Aerials competitions will again be held at night under the lights while the competition finish lines will sit in direct view of the California Lodge, located at the base area.

“Building on our heritage of freestyle skiing and competition that dates back to its roots in the 1970’s, we’re excited and honored to host the 2013 and 2014 U.S. Freestyle Championships at Heavenly on Gunbarrel,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “Gunbarrel is the most iconic moguls run in North America and has spawned such great skiers as Glen Plake and current U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athlete Sho Kashima. It’s the ultimate challenge for America’s top freestyle skiers.”

A hotspot for freestyle skiing since the sport’s inception, Heavenly is no stranger to the development of elite athletes. Many of the United States’ top freestyle skiers hail from the resort including Brooke Ballachey, Chris Hernandez, Ryan Hickey, Anna Park, current U.S. Ski Team athlete Sho Kashima and Glen Plake, the multicolor mohawked icon of 1990’s skiing culture. Heavenly is also home to the legendary Gunbarrel moguls run, a popular competition venue, and features two man-made terrain parks that include jumps, bank turns, table tops, rollers, hits and rail slides, providing diverse training opportunities for up-and-coming skiers and pros alike.

Indeed, local spectators are sure to cheer for Kashima, a former Heavenly Valley Ski Foundation athlete who grew up skiing in Lake Tahoe.

“I can’t think of anything more inspiring than competing on my home hill during such an exciting time in the winter sports world,” said Kashima. “Heavenly provides excellent support to its freestyle athletes and I am proud of the resort’s selection as host of the U.S. Freestyle Championships.”

Because the U.S. Championships event falls after the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, spectators will also have the opportunity to watch U.S. Olympic athletes compete after they return from the Games.

“Heavenly will provide a great combination of spectator-friendly venues plus a rich heritage of freestyle skiing,” said USSA Vice President, Events Calum Clark. “The U.S. Freestyle Championships will showcase our most accomplished freestyle skiers both as they prepare for and return from the Olympics in Sochi.”