Copper Mountain, CO – Snowmaking began this morning on the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain in preparation for the U.S. Alpine Ski Team to begin their road to Sochi training on Colorado snow.

The U.S. Ski Team Speed Center features 87 HKD automatic snowmaking guns designed to blanket the only full-length downhill training facility available for training at this time of year. The first day of training and opening day for the public are both targeted for Nov. 1.

The full team of Olympic hopefuls, including Ted Ligety, Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin will be introduced at Copper Mountain on Nov. 8 during Nature Valley First Tracks Alpine Team Naming, a free all-American pep rally open to the public to kick off the ski and snowboard season. The full day event allows fans to catch the U.S. Ski Team training, participate in a fan-led parade and official naming ceremony, followed by an athlete autograph session and headlining live music in Copper’s Burning Stones Plaza, located in Center Village.

“The U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper was a huge step forward in supporting ski racing in North America. It’s cool to now see that support evolve into a fan event that kicks off our road to Sochi and celebrates the start of the ski season,” says Ligety, an Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Champion from Park City, Utah.

One lucky winner will receive a trip for four to Copper Mountain for the U.S. Ski Team First Tracks event weekend. The grand prize package includes round trip airfare courtesy of Delta Airlines, three nights of lodging at Copper Mountain Resort, shuttle transportation to and from Denver International Airport, lift tickets, four U.S. Ski Team Spyder jackets and a GoPro camera package. Fans can enter now at U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain Facebook pages, no purchase necessary. Ten runner-up winners will receive two VIP credentials to the First Tracks event, allowing special access to training viewing at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, the ceremony and the all-American blow out celebration. Entries to the First Tracks Giveaway will be accepted until Oct. 17.

NATURE VALLEY FIRST TRACKS SCHEDULE
(all times local and subject to change)

Friday, November 8

• Vendor Village in Burning Stones Plaza, located in Center Village 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• U.S. Ski Team Speed Center Viewing (East Village) 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• “Believe in U.S.” Poster Party (CCC – Ptarmigan Rooms) 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
• Nature Valley First Tracks (Burning Stones Plaza) 4:30 –5:00 p.m.
• Copper All American Concert (BSP) 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.