Vail, CO – The 34th annual US Open Snowboarding Championships will once again return to Vail Mountain Resort in Colorado from February 29^th to March 5^th. As a premier event of the competitive snowboarding season, the U.S. Open gives riders the chance to take home a major title and add their name to the roster of past winners—plus spectators get to watch all the action for free.

This year’s event is packed full of snowboarding, entertainment, and free events, demos, and activities for the entire family. This year also marks the return of the Burton U.S. Open Halfpipe Junior Jam.

The competition kicks off on Tuesday, March 1^st with the return of the Junior Jam halfpipe event, featuring pipe-riding groms from around the world. Ten boys and five girls ages 14 and under will compete in the 22-foot halfpipe to secure a spot to compete alongside the pros in the Burton U.S. Open semi-finals. Some of the best riders in the world have made a name for themselves at past Burton U.S. Open Junior Jams, including pros like Shaun White (USA), Ayumu Hirano (JPN) and Chloe Kim (USA). Find out which up-and-comer will write their name into the history books this year.

Competition heats up throughout the week with the world’s top professional riders battling it out for a spot in the main event halfpipe and slopestyle finals. Spectators can expect to see the world’s top riders gunning for their piece of the $343,000 prize purse and the U.S. Open title, the longest-running snowboard event in the world. Last year saw the first-ever combination of back-to-back 1620s in slopestyle by Japan’s Yuki Kadono. Canada’s Mark McMorris landed a first-ever 1440 combination (frontside triple cork 1440 mute into a backside triple cork 1440 mute), while Kelly Clark (USA) brought home her record eighth Burton U.S. Open halfpipe title.

In addition to world-class competition, the U.S. Open is a great time for everyone from fans to families to get in on all of the snowboarding action. Burton will once again provide free board, boot and binding demos for riders to try out all of the newest 2016 equipment. Burton Girls will also be offering demos and a free Burton Girls Ride Day for the ladies. And kids ages 3-6 will be able to session the Riglet Park at Golden Peak, where Burton will be offering free kids equipment, demos, and lessons.

The Burton U.S. Open features a packed schedule off-hill as well in the town of Vail with free live concerts as well as après, all day giveaways, contests, and food and drinks specials in participating bars and restaurants throughout Vail Village. Additional activities include the return of the U.S. Open Broomball tournament, product sampling, demos and giveaways in the Sponsor village at Golden Peak, along with opportunities to meet the pros. 

2016 Burton US Open Competition Schedule:

• Tuesday, March 1^st: Halfpipe Junior Jam
• Wednesday, March 2^nd: Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle Semi-Finals
• Thursday, March 3^rd: Men’s and Women’s Halfpipe Semi-Finals
• Friday, March 4^th: Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle Finals
• Saturday, March 5^th: Men’s and Women’s Halfpipe Finals