Park City, UT – Strong international snowboarding and freeskiing fields are expected for the 2012-13 Sprint U.S. Grand Prix in a schedule announced by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association this week.
The Grand Prix enters its 17th season with dual FIS World Cup status for halfpipe snowboarding as well as the newly added Olympic sports of slopestyle skiing and snowboarding and halfpipe skiing. The Grand Prix has partnered with Utah’s Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain Resort, as well as Copper Mountain in Colorado, to host the series’ three competitions this winter. Each Sprint U.S. Grand Prix tour stop will feature network TV coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network, along with live streaming and other digital and cable coverage.
“We continue to partner with resorts that are known and respected for their commitment to these sports and construction of progressive and high level, well-maintained contest venues in the world,” said Grand Prix Tour Director Eric Webster. “That is always the focus of the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix is to develop and maintain relationships with resorts that support snowboarding and freeskiing.”
The upgrade to International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup status for halfpipe and slopestyle skiing and snowboarding events at Park City and Copper Mountain will result in stronger international fields as Olympic qualifying events, organizers and athletes both indicate.
“The Grand Prix competitions were some of my first Pro level events growing up. They are some of the longest running high quality events out there,” said Olympic Halfpipe Snowboarding Champion Kelly Clark, of West Dover, Vt. “I am excited that they will be World Cups this season. It will help the U.S. riders get points to earn quota spots heading into the Olympic season. And having them be the FIS format will be good as well – it is always nice to do events that are run like the Olympics.”
Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix events at Copper Mountain and Park City Mountain Resort will also be featured with Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Platinum status – highest level in the world. The Canyons tour stop will feature The North Face Junior Jam to showcase young up-and-coming freeskiing talent in a mini rail jam.
Park City returns to the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix for the first time since naming the Olympic team in 2010. The resort will kick off the holiday period with FIS World Cups halfpipes in both the Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix and Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix, an AFP Platinum event. Park City’s Three Kings Park, located adjacent to the Eagle Superpipe, will host the Paul Mitchell Progression Session under the lights.
A strong regular tour stop, Copper Mountain moves to January and will be hosting its first FIS World Cup slopestyle snowboarding and skiing with the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix held in its Woodward Central terrain park. Copper will double up with its perennial Main Vein halfpipe for both snowboarding and skiing.
This will be the third season for the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Canyons Resort, which this year will host both snowboardcross and skicross as U.S. Championship events with athletes vying for the coveted green jacket. Canyons Resort offers a course that focuses on creating large air features and finishes at Canyons’ fan-friendly Ski Beach gathering area.
2012-13 SPRINT U.S. GRAND PRIX
Park City Mountain Resort, Dec. 19-22, 2012
- Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix – Halfpipe snowboarding
- Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix – Halfpipe skiing
- Paul Mitchell Progression Session
Copper Mountain, Jan. 9-12, 2013
- Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix – Halfpipe and slopestyle snowboarding
- Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix – Halfpipe and slopestyle skiing
- Paul Mitchell Progression Session
Canyons Resort, Feb. 27-Mar. 2, 2013
- Sprint U.S. Grand Prix – Snowboardcross and skicross (U.S. Championships)
- The North Face Junior Jam (mini rail jam)