Copper Mountain, CO – The third season of the The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series (PPOS) kicks off today at Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado with a stacked professional and amateur international field of competitors, all vying for the podium of the first Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) halfpipe competition on U.S. soil this season. In addition, the event is a FIS-sanctioned NorAm Cup with athletes earning critical points necessary to advance to the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

Highly decorated athletes competing this weekend include New Zealand’s Jossi Wells and American Tanner Hall, who is returning to competition after injury. America’s Maddie Bowman and Peter Olenick, Anais Caradeux of France, and Canadians Justin Dorey, X Games women’s gold medalist Roz Groenewoud and Mike Riddle, along with open pros will join an open field of hungry amateurs this weekend.

“It is very exciting to see the talented field of athletes on the roster for The North Face Park and Pipe Open series this weekend. X Games and Dew Tour medalists, film stars, and veteran freeskiers are mixed in with amateurs looking to make a name for themselves in the halfpipe, ” said PPOS host/commentator Max Kuszaj. “Perhaps most exciting is the return of Tanner Hall to the competition scene after being sidelined due to injury the past few seasons.”

The 2013 PPOS continues on to Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada (Jan. 14-17, 2013), Waterville Valley, N.H. (Feb. 23, 2013) and concludes at Northstar California Resort in Lake Tahoe (March 8-10, 2013).

Copper PPOS Event Schedule