U.S. Snowboard and Freeski Team halfpipe athletes return to the friendly confines of the Copper Mountain’s 22-foot superpipe for the opening Toyota U.S. Grand Prix this week at the Colorado resort, and the networks of NBC will be there broadcast all the action. In fact, NBC is scheduled to stream and broadcast more than 50 hours of Olympic winter sports from Colorado, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Norway Dec. 7-10.

The finals of both Grand Prix events will be streamed and broadcast live on the networks of NBC, including NBC Sports Network and NBC Sports Gold for Friday’s freeski finals and Saturday’s snowboard finals. This weekend’s Grand Prix events also serve as the opening FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Cup halfpipe events for the 2018-19 season and NBC will broadcast a pair of one-hour Grand Prix recap shows Saturday (freeski) and Sunday (snowboard) afternoons.

Fresh off her historic 46th career FIS Ski World Cup victory, which was also her first career World Cup super-G win, Sunday at Lake Louise, Alberta, Mikaela Shiffrin (Avon, Colo.) and teammates return to Europe for the remainder of the competition season. But American fans will only have to reach for their mobile device or remote control to watch this weekend’s super-G and parallel women’s World Cup events in St. Moritz, Switzerland. On the men's side, Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) leads the tech team in the second World Cup giant slalom and slalom events of the season in Val d’Isere, France. All alpine events this weekend will be streamed and broadcast on NBC Sports Network, the Olympic Channel and NBC Sports Gold.

Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.), Tess Johnson (Vail, Colo.), Casey Andringa (Vail, Colo.) and Bradley Wilson (Park City, Utah) lead the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team moguls athletes as they kick off their World Cup season in Ruka, Finland, this weekend. Both the Olympic Channel and NBC Sports Gold will carry live coverage on Friday, starting at 9:20 a.m. EST.

Fresh of a string of three top-10 World Cup results, including a third-place sprint finish in Lillehammer, Norway, last weekend, Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) joins her U.S. Cross Country Ski Team teammate Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) to compete in a 15k freestyle Saturday and a 4x5k team relay in Beitostølen, Norway, Sunday. Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.) and Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.) are scheduled to participate in the men’s 30k freestyle and a 4x7.5k team relay. All events will be streamed/broadcast live on the Olympic Channel and NBC Sports Gold.

USA Nordic/U.S. Ski Team ski jumpers, unfortunately, will have to wait another week before the next FIS Ski Jumping World Cup event as this weekend's large hill competition in Titisee-Neustadt, Germany has been canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast
**Next-day broadcast

ALPINE
Saturday, Dec. 8
3:45 a.m. - Men’s giant slalom, run 1 - Val d’Isere, FRA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:00 a.m. - Women’s super-G, St. Moritz, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
6:45 a.m. - Men’s giant slalom, run 2 - Val d’Isere, FRA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:00 a.m. - Men’s giant slalom, run 2 - Val d’Isere, FRA - Olympic Channel-TV

Sunday, Dec. 9
12:30 a.m. - Women’s super-G, St. Moritz, SUI - NBCSN-TV**
3:15 a.m. - Men’s slalom, run 1 - Val d’Isere, FRA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
4:15 a.m. - Women’s parallel slalom qualifying, St. Moritz, SUI - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
6:15 a.m. - Men’s slalom, run 2 - Val d’Isere, FRA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:00 a.m. - Women’s parallel slalom, St. Moritz, SUI - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:30 a.m. - Women’s parallel slalom, St. Moritz, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV
5:00 a.m. - Women’s parallel slalom, St. Moritz, SUI - NBCSN-TV*

FREESKI
Friday, Dec. 7
1:00 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Copper Mountain, Colo. - NBCSN-TV, NBCSports.com & NBC Sports Gold

Saturday, Dec. 8
4:30 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Copper Mountain, Colo. - NBC**

FREESTYLE
Friday, Dec. 7
9:20 a.m. - Men and women’s moguls, Ruka, FIN - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
3:00 p.m. - Men and women’s moguls, Ruka, FIN - Olympic Channel-TV*

CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday, Dec. 8
3:20 a.m. - Women’s 15k interval, Beitostølen, NOR - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
6:05 a.m. - Men’s 30k interval, Beitostølen, NOR - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Women’s 15k interval, Beitostølen, NOR - Olympic Channel-TV*

Sunday, Dec. 9
4:20 a.m. - Women’s team relay, Beitostølen, NOR - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:20 a.m. - Men’s team relay, Beitostølen, NOR - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
4:00 p.m. - Women’s team relay, Beitostølen, NOR - Olympic Channel-TV*

SNOWBOARD
Saturday, Dec. 8
1:00 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Copper Mountain, Colo. - NBCSN-TV, NBCSports.com & NBC Sports Gold

Sunday, Dec. 9
12:30 p.m. - Men and women’s halfpipe, Copper Mountain, Colo. - NBC**

Fans can catch all the action in spectacular high definition via NBC Sports online at NBCSports.com/Live or through the NBC Sports app which is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire. Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow

The time has come, the superpipe is taking shape, and Copper Mountain is welcoming freeski and snowboard halfpipe superstars from across the globe to compete at the 2018 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix Dec. 5-8. This year the event holds special significance as it marks over a decade of partnership between Copper Mountain and U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Not to mention, early Colorado snow will make for excellent training and competition conditions.

“I am really excited for this season of events to start up,” said U.S. Snowboard Pro Team member Jake Pates (Eagle, Colo.). “Heading to Copper Mountain is the perfect way to kick it off. Mainly, I’m just excited to link up with all of my teammates to ride and have a good time.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is showing up with a stacked roster of Olympic medalists, FIS World Cup Champions and rising stars ready to put their skills to the test. The U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Team is arriving with a serious collection of accolades and experience. Double Olympic gold medalist David Wise (Reno, Nev.) will be leading the charge alongside Olympic silver medalist Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.) and two-time Olympian and 2017 FIS World Champion Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, Colo.). For the women, the star-studded cast of Olympic medalists includes Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.), Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.), and Devin Logan (West Dover, Vt.). Also, PyeongChang Olympian Annalisa Drew (Andover, Mass.) will be looking to put down one of the more technical runs in women’s halfpipe freeskiing.

“Definitely excited to kick off the season and get back in the pipe,” said Sigourney. “It’s been a relaxing post-Olympic break and I’m mostly looking forward to focusing on having fun this year. My goal for Copper is to pick up where I left off last year, I would be really happy with that.”

PyeongChang Olympic gold medalist and 2017 FIS World Cup Champion Chloe Kim (Torrence, Calif.) will be looking to defend her Grand Prix title from 2016 and 2017. Look for Kim and Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, Calif.) as they take their new tricks to the competition scene. Both come into Copper Mountain as the only two women who have landed frontside double corks on snow. However, you can not count out Colorado local and Olympic bronze medalist Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). After battling a shoulder injury in PyeongChang, she is healthy coming into the 2018-19 season. The women of the U.S. Snowboard Team will be looking to defend their podium sweep from 2017.

“I have had the privilege to work with our snowboard halfpipe riders for 12 seasons now,” said U.S. Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach Rick Bower. “I can say that I have worked with some of the most talented snowboarders of all time and this current crew of riders are as motivated, hungry and skilled as anyone. Our riders are doing truly groundbreaking skills acquired at the Saas Fee camp and I think this season is shaping up to see some tricks that have never been done before in competition.”

Also, PyeongChang Olympians Pates, Chase Josey (Sun Valley, Idaho) as well as new U.S. Snowboard Pro Team member Toby Miller (Mammoth, Calif.) will be looking to set the tone for the season at the inaugural FIS World Cup halfpipe competition.

“We are all very excited for our first competition,” said U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach Andrew Woods. “With all the early season snow Copper has received, conditions will be excellent and will make for a great contest. Each year, Copper gives athletes the first opportunity to show off their hard work over the summer. For the first time, they will be taking skills they learned at training camps into full competition runs. Doing well here can really boost the confidence and help to set the tone for the remainder of the year.”

The freeskiers will kick things off on Dec. 5 and snowboarders on Dec. 6 with the qualification rounds. Finals will take place on Dec. 7 for the freeskiers and Dec. 8 for the snowboarders. Whether you plan to head out to Copper Mountain, Colo. and experience the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix up close and personal or are tuning in to the networks of NBC, you are guaranteed a spectacular show. Stay tuned for more coverage as competition unfolds this week.

HOW TO WATCH
*Subject to change
*All times EST

FREESKI
December 7, 2018
1:00 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports & NBC Sports Gold

December 8
4:30 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC - Next-day broadcast

SNOWBOARD
December 8, 2018
1:00 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports & NBC Sports Gold

December 9
12:30 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC - Next-day broadcast

EVENT SCHEDULE
*subject to change

Dec. 5:  8:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m (MST) - Freeski Qualifications
Dec. 6: 8:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m (MST) - Snowboard Qualifications
Dec. 7: 11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. (MST) - Freeski Finals
Dec. 8: 11:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (MST) - Snowboard Finals
 

U.S. Snowboard Team athletes will compete in the third FIS World Cup big air event of the season this week in Beijing, China, the Beijing Snowboard Air + Style Big Air World Cup. This is only the second year that the Air + Style big air competition has doubled as a FIS World Cup. In an interview with FIS Race Director Roberto Moresi in 2017, Moresi says, “Air + Style is one of the most historical snowboard events ever with a very strong reputation. Every snowboarder wants to be part of it sooner or later.”

The FIS World Cup Air + Style big is indeed a sought after event for snowboarders with an incredibly high level of competition. Only two U.S Snowboard athletes are on the start list including defending World Cup Slopestyle Champion Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) who already has two podium results in big air competition this season. Corning won the inaugural competition of the season in Cardrona, NZ and followed it up with a second place finish in Modena, Italy. Joining Corning is U.S Pro Team member Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii). With one World Cup podium under his belt from Seiseralm, Italy last season, expect Farrell to come in firing looking for his second World Cup victory.

“I’m honored to get the invite to Air + Style Beijing,” Farrell. “Getting to compete against some of the top riders in the world at such a unique event is a truly special opportunity.”

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST

SNOWBOARD
Saturday, Nov. 24
6:00 a.m. - World Cup big air + style, Beijing, CHN - NBC Sports Gold*
6:30 a.m. - World Cup big air + style, Beijing, CHN - Olympic Channel
 

Professional halfpipe freeskiers and snowboarders live lifestyles some would consider crazy. Whether it’s traveling the world year-round chasing snow, finding new and exciting ways to soar off of 22-foot walls of ice for a chance at victory, or maybe earning an education in a non-traditional way, it becomes difficult to find familiar territory and a sense of community.

In the 10 years that Copper Mountain and U.S. Ski & Snowboard have collaborated to host multiple events, including the Paul Mitchell Progression Sessions, FIS World Cups, and Olympic Qualifiers, one thing has remained constant and that is a clear sense of community. It’s undoubtedly contagious throughout the resort and the competition venues. This sense of belonging manifests itself in a variety of ways. Whether through the whole field of international athletes cheering each other on during training, joking around in the finish corral, or supporting each other’s progression throughout the week, everyone is simply happy to be where they are at that given moment. If you follow freeskiing and snowboarding, you will notice elements of this communal vibe throughout the season, but there is something different and special about the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix event at Copper Mountain.

“The Copper Grand Prix is different because it’s the first event of the season and everyone is getting acclimated to being on snow again,” said PyeongChang Olympic bronze medalist Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). “It’s always that much more exciting to be part of, primarily because it’s usually the first time people in the industry are getting to see each other since last season. It’s especially fun seeing my international friends who I don’t often see during the summer, I love getting the chance to catch up with them.”

Sochi Olympic gold medalist Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) also is looking forward to spending time at Copper Mountain this December.

“It’s great to catch up with everyone and see all the excitement for the season,” says Bowman. “Copper feels like home so it makes it easier to get back into the flow of things.”

This unique sense of community creates a platform for world-class competition come game time. It may be smiles and high fives throughout arrival and training, but from the drop in to the finish corral, it’s all business. The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain will kick off the 23rd year of the Grand Prix with four back-to-back days of international freeski and snowboard competition in the resort’s 22-foot superpipe Dec. 5-8. Don’t miss your chance to see the excitement unfold with some of U.S. Ski & Snowboards biggest stars. See how to be part of the action as it unfolds below.

TOYOTA U.S. GRAND PRIX - COPPER MOUNTAIN
Event Schedule
*subject to change

Dec. 6: Freeski Halfpipe qualifications
Dec. 7: Snowboard Halfpipe qualifications
Dec. 8: Freeski Halfpipe Finals
Dec. 9: Snowboard Halfpipe Finals

HOW TO WATCH
*All Times EST

FREESKI
December 7, 2018
1:00 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports - Live

December 8
4:30 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC - Next-day broadcast

SNOWBOARD
December 8, 2018
1:00 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports - Live

December 9
12:30 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC - Next-day broadcast
 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the 2018-19 U.S. Snowboard Team today, featuring eight Olympic medalists, including 2018 gold medalists Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.), and Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.).

“We have such an amazing group of returning athletes along with talented new Rookies this year,” said U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Director, Jeremy Forster. “We are looking forward to starting our U.S. competition season at the Copper Mountain Grand Prix, and building towards the World Championships in Park City.”

With the 2018 World Cup season already underway, defending World Cup slopestyle champion Chris Corning (Denver, Colo.) already has two podium results in big air competition, including a victory in the season-opening event in Cardrona, New Zealand. Corning will be gunning to not only defend his overall World Cup and slopestyle titles but add a World Championship medal to his trophy collection.

“U.S. Team riders have had a fun and successful offseason with camps at Timberline, Ore. and on the European Glaciers this fall,” said U.S Freeski and Snowboard Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air Head Coach Mike Jankowski. “We have a super solid group of riders and everyone is ready to get competition underway this season.”

Indeed, with a long list of Olympic medalists, including Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), Kelly Clark (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), Kyle Mack, (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.), Alex Deibold (Manchester, Vt.) and Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, Vt.), the U.S, Snowboard Team is ready to tackle some of the season’s most high profile events including the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain Dec. 5-8, and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area March 4-9. As always, Team riders mark the X Games, Dew Tour and the Burton U.S. Open among the season’s top goals. Alongside the park and pipe athletes, the snowboardcross and alpine teams will embark on the FIS World Cup circuit, covering significant ground before returning home to home soil for arguably the biggest event of the season. U.S. Snowboardcross B Team member Jake Vedder (Pinckney, Mich.) will be joining his teammates on the World Cup circuit following his victory at the 2018 FIS Junior World Championships in August.

This February provides a rare opportunity for U.S. Snowboard Team athletes to go for glory on their home soil at the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships, presented by Toyota right in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s home state of Utah. It will also mark the first World Championships for both Kim and Gerard, both of whom exploded onto the snowboard scene last February at the 2018 Games. Jacobellis will also be defending her 2017 snowboardcross world title in February.

“The boardercross crew is really stoked to be racing the World Championships on home snow at Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah,” said U.S Snowboardcross Head Coach Peter Foley. “The addition of the new Olympic event of team boardercross will give fans another chance to cheer on the U.S. Team as they race the other nations for medals in this exciting relay.  We’ve had amazing training camps in Switzerland and Copper Mountain, Colo. this fall and everyone can’t wait to start racing.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes have a strong history of performing at their very best at recent FIS World Championships. At the 2017 World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain, U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes collected six gold medals, three silver medals, and four bronze medals across all disciplines. More specifically, Lindsey Jacobellis is the defending snowboardcross champion as well as Hagen Kearney and Nick Baumgartner are defending team snowboardcross champions. The U.S. Snowboard Team will look to continue that success heading into the 2018-19 season.
 

U.S. Snowboard
Name (Birthdate; Hometown; Club; USASA Series)

HALFPIPE
Pro Team
Men
Chase Blackwell (Longmont, Colo.; Jim Smith Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/99)
Gabe Ferguson (Bend, Ore.; Central Oregon Series; 4/16/99)
Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/17/93)
Chase Josey (Hailey, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; Big Mountain West Series; 3/31/95)
Toby Miller (Mammoth Lakes, Calif; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/14/00)
Jake Pates (Eagle, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/30/98)
Ryan Wachendorfer (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/3/98)

Women
Kelly Clark (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mount Snow Academy, Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Southern Vermont Series; 7/26/83)
Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 5/4/96)
Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 4/23/00)
Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 2/22/00)

Rookie Team
Men
Jake Canter (Silverthorne, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 7/19/03)
Lucas Foster (Telluride, Colo.; Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/17/99)
Jason Wolle (Winter Park, Colo.; Jim Smith Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/30/99)
Jack Coyne (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 01/17/2002)

Women
Tessa Maud (Carlsbad, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 10/10/03)
Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series 1/27/02)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR
Pro Team
Men
Nik Baden (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/13/98)
Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/7/99)
Brock Crouch (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 8/22/99)
Brandon Davis (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 8/30/95)
Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/22/98)
Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 6/29/00)
Judd Henkes (La Jolla, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 4/3/01)
Chandler Hunt (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 11/4/98)
Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, Mich.; Great Lakes Snow Series; 9/6/97)
Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, Alaska; Auburn Ski Club; Big Alaska Series; 10/23/92)

Women
Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.; South Tahoe Series; 9/13/90)
Jessika Jenson (Rigby, Idaho; Big Mountain West Series; 8/7/91)
Hailey Langland (San Clemente, Calif.; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; North Tahoe Series; 8/2/00)
Julia Marino (Westport, Conn.; Southern Vermont Series; 9/11/97)
Karly Shorr (Milford, Mich.; Auburn Ski Club; Great Lakes Series; 5/18/94)

Rookie Team
Men
Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 7/19/03)
Dusty Henricksen (Mammoth Lakes, Calif; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 2/2/03)
Sean Fitzsimons (Hood River, Ore.; Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation; Mt. Hood Series; 9/22/00)
Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.; Kirk’s Camp; Rocky Mountain Series: 12/18/00)

Women
Nora Healey (Plymouth, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 6/16/98)
Courtney Rummel (West Bend, Wisc.; Wisconsin Advanced Ski and Snowboard Program; Midwest Best Series; 11/12/03)
Ty Schnorrbusch (Monroe Township, N.J.; Tom Anderson, Rocky Mountain Series 5/15/02)
Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 1/27/02)

SNOWBOARDCROSS
A Team
Men
Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.; Great Lakes Snow Series; 12/17/81)
Jonathan Cheever (Saugus, Mass.; Maine Mountain Series; 4/17/85)
Alex Deibold (Manchester, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 5/8/86)
Mick Dierdorff (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/30/91)
Nate Holland (Sandpoint, Idaho; North Tahoe Series; 11/8/78)
Hagen Kearney (Norwood, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/6/91)

Women
Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, Utah; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/24/92)
Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, Vt.; Stratton Mountain, School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/19/85)

B Team
Men
Jake Vedder (Pinckney, Mich.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/16/98)

Women
Rosie Mancari (Anchorage, Alaska; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club; Big Alaska Series; 1/22/94)

Development Group
Men
Cole Johnson (Reno, Nev.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; South Tahoe Series; 9/21/93)
Senna Leith (Vail, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/8/97)

Women
Meghan Tierney (Edwards, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/15/97)
Stacy Gaskill (Golden, Colo.; Winter Park Snowboard Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 5/21/00)

ALPINE
B Team
AJ Muss (Rumson, N.J.; Rocky Mountain Series; 12/15/1994)
 

Official U.S. Snowboard Partners
Uniform/Licensees
High Sierra
SmartWool
Wax/Tools/Supplies
Boot Doc
Buff
Dermatone
Dominator
EPS
Extended Exposure
Huge Sportswear
Identity Plus
Insight Replay
Lasting Impressions
Liftopia
Reliable Racing
Slingshot Sports
Sun Valley Ski Tools
Swix
Thule
Tools4Boards
TriggerPoint
Vauhti Wax Technologies
Vertical Brands
WEND Wax
WinCraft
Wintersteiger
Little Hotties/Yaktrax/DryGuy
 

Excitement is building for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and staff as the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships presented by Toyota gets set to take place Feb. 1-10, in the USSA’s own backyard in Park City, Utah. With 10 days of competition at three of the best resorts in the country - including Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain, and Solitude Mountain Resort - this will be the biggest winter sports event to be held in Utah since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Find some interesting facts that speak to the significance of the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships below:

World Championship Success

Five individual U.S. Ski & Snowboard champions from the 2017 FIS Sierra Nevada World Championships will look to defend their titles: Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, Colo.), McRae Williams (Park City, Utah), Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, Vt), Jonathon Lillis (Rochester, N.Y.) and Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.). Also, Hagen Kearney (Norwood, Colo.) and Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.) are defending team snowboardcross champions.

There are three returning U.S. Ski & Snowboard 2018 FIS Crystal Globe winners: Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.), Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.) and Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.). Corning claimed the snowboarding titles in slopestyle, big air and overall.

Size and Scale

More than 1,800 athletes and team officials will attend the Championships.

29 competitions including qualifying and final rounds with 13 FIS events showcased, and $750,000+ in prize money.

Three new Olympic events will be hosted for the first time at a FIS World Championships: freeski big air, mixed team snowboard cross, and team aerials.

55,000 spectators are expected across the 10 days of competition.

An international TV audience of more than 270 million viewers are expected to tune in on television and stream on digital devices. This estimated TV audience size has in turn caused TV coverage to exponentially increase: 28 hours of coverage on NBC and NBCSN will be broadcasted, a number that has almost doubled since the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships in Beaver Creek.

Athletes

PyeongChang Olympic freeski gold medalists expected to compete include Cassie Sharpe (Canada), Oystein Braaten (Norway) and Sarah Hoefflin (Switzerland).

PyeongChang Olympic Snowboard gold medalists expected to compete include Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.), Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.), Sebastien Toutant (Canada) and Anna Gasser (Austria).

Notable aerial athletes expected to compete include 2018 PyeongChang Olympic gold medalists Oleksandr Abramenko (Ukraine) and Hanna Huskova (Belarus).

Moguls competitors heading to Park City include 2018 Olympic medalists Michael Kingsbury (Canada), Matt Graham (Australia), and Sierra Nevada 2017 double world champion Ikuma Horishima (Japan).  For the women, Olympic medalists include Perrine Laffont (France), Justine Dufour-Lapointe (Canada) and Yulia Galysheva (Russia).

Park City, Utah

The mayor and City Council of Park City have made it a mission to put environmental sustainability a priority during the 2019 FIS World Championships. The Environmental Sustainability Team has partnered up with Park City resorts to ensure that the execution of each World Championship event puts environmental sustainability as a top priority.  

Park City, Utah hosted the FIS Freestyle World Championships in 2003 and 2011 at Deer Valley Resort, but 2019 will be the first time a U.S-based World Championship will include all events across the snowboard, freestyle and freeski disciplines.

Volunteer Efforts

Amongst staff, there will be about 900 people working the events; 650 people will be volunteers, equating to a combined 25,000 hours of both working shifts and volunteer commitment.

Featuring the best athletes in the world, world-renowned venues, and several brand-new events, you will not want to miss the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships presented by Toyota. In fact, there are many ways to get involved, with over 650 volunteer opportunities for anyone 15 years of age and up. Volunteers will be able to experience events up close and contribute to making the World Championships the best it can be. If you have an interest in joining the team, Click Here to Sign Up.
 

U.S. Snowboard Team member Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) kicked off the FIS Snowboard World Cup big air in Modena, Italy, with a second-place finish in front of a huge crowd Saturday. Takeru Otsuka (Japan) won the event, as Kalle Jarvilehto (Finland) was third.

On the women’s side, the podium mimicked an impressive Japanese performance at the first Big Air World Cup of the season in Cardrona, New Zealand with Reira Iwabuchi (Japan) and Miyabi Onitsuka (Japan) taking the top two spots, followed by PyeongChang big air gold medalist Anna Gasser (Austria) in third.

Corning was the lone American in the top 10 for finals and he came out firing with a flat spin frontside 1440 melon. As Corning’s U.S. Freeski Teammates Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.) and Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.) were cheering relentlessly from the crowd, he watched as he posted the highest score in the first round. Many riders took a relatively safe run on their second jump, but Corning took a very different approach, performing a backside triple cork 1440 melon landing almost at the flat bottom. His perfect landing matched his first run score of a 92.50 putting him in second place. Heading into the third and final round, Corning hinted at the fact he may go for the quad cork 1800 if it was necessary to claim the top spot.

After qualifying first overall moving into finals, Corning had the chance to watch the entire field before dropping in on his third and final jump. Trying to overtake Otsuka and holding nothing back, Corning went absolutely massive going for his signature quad cork 1800 which won him the opening World Cup big air of the season in Cardrona, but he simply ran out of real estate on the landing and settled for his is his second-consecutive World Cup big air podium.

U.S. Freeski athletes Claire, Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah), Alex Hall (Park City, Utah) and Forehand, the 2018 Freeski Big Air Junior World Champion, will battle for podium positions Sunday as the SkiPass Modena big air continues. Other American athletes competing include Quinn Wolferman (Missoula, Mont.) and Ryan Stevenson (Washington, N.J.).

RESULTS
Men
Women

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST

FREESKI
SUNDAY, NOV. 4
11:00 a.m. - World Cup big air, Modena, ITA - The Olympic Channel
 

U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Team athletes will compete in their second FIS World Cup big air this week in Modena, Italy, on Nov 3-4. Among the athletes competing is the 2018 New Zealand Winter Games FIS World Cup snowboard big air winner, Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.), as well as the 2018 Freeski Big Air Junior World Champion Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.).

In addition, the U.S. athletic field will include U.S. Snowboard Pro Team members Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, Alaska), Lyon Farell (Haiku, Hawaii) and Grant Giller (Salt Lake City, Utah). The U.S. Freeski Team of heavy hitters includes Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.), Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah), Alex Hall (Park City, Utah), and Americans Quinn Wolferman (Missoula, Mont.) and Ryan Stevenson (Washington, N.J.).

U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes have a chance to make history as this is the first ever FIS World Cup in Modena on the largest jump of its kind ever built in Italy, according to FIS. This Modena event replaced the originally scheduled Milan competitions. Also, the atmosphere should be something special with the Italian Metropolis Skipass Winter Sport and Tourism Festival happening simultaneously. Snowboard competition will take place on Nov 3, while freeski competition will take place on Nov 4.

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST

SNOWBOARD
SATURDAY, NOV. 3
1:30 p.m. - World Cup big air, Modena, ITA - The Olympic Channel

FREESKI
SUNDAY, NOV. 4
11:00 A.M. - World Cup big air, Modena, ITA - The Olympic Channel

Temperatures are dropping and resorts have flipped the switch on their snow guns. Most importantly, we are only one month out from the world’s best halfpipe freeskiers and snowboarders descending on Copper Mountain, Colo., for the 2018 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain will kick off the 23rd year of the Grand Prix with four back-to-back days of international freeski and snowboard competition in the resort’s 22 foot superpipe Dec. 5-8. Since 2008, the Grand Prix at Copper has welcomed the world and traditionally served as the season opener for FIS World Cup freeski and snowboard halfpipe competition in the northern hemisphere. Halfpipe athletes consider Copper Mountain as a staple on their early season competition tour.

“It has become a routine to start the season off in Copper. But that is not something that we take for granted. It is a privilege to be able to start the season off and get our momentum going on home soil in a state of the art superpipe.”
    - David Wise, 2017 Copper Grand Prix Winner.

The Copper Mountain Resort Grand Prix partnership is one that is incredibly important to U.S. Ski & Snowboard. By creating a world-class venue for freeski and snowboard halfpipe competition in early December, athletes are able to train and launch their competition season in an environment that fosters progression and a high level of competition. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Copper Mountain.

“This year is a milestone for the Copper and U.S. Grand Prix partnership as we’ve been collaborating and working together for a decade,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Event Director Nick Alexakos. ”In those 10 years, we have included Olympic Qualifiers and FIS World Cups in both halfpipe and big air, the Paul Mitchell Progression Sessions, and witnessed both freeskiing and snowboarding develop to the insane level they’re at today. If the past is any representation, we all have a lot to look forward to this December.”

Jesse True, Interim President and General Manager of Copper Mountain also believes this year’s event will be something special.

“Copper continues to pride itself on being the premier resort for progression and with the earliest superpipe opening in the country,” said True. ”We’re thrilled to welcome home Olympians Chloe Kim (Torrence, Calif.), Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and David Wise (Reno, Nev.) for the annual Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain. It’s a privilege to be one of the first U.S. ski areas to showcase world-class competition in halfpipe freeskiing and snowboarding especially coming off the legendary PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.”

In addition to Kim, Gold, and Wise, returning Olympic halfpipe medalists include freeskiers Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) and Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.). The U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Halfpipe Teams are coming off of an incredibly successful training camp in Saas-Fee, Switzerland and are getting ready to take advantage of their time at Copper in the superpipe.

“Favorable early season snow is making for excellent pipe building in anticipation of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix,” said Woodward Copper Terrain Park and Progression Manager Noah Schwander. The 22-foot high, 68-foot wide superpipe, positioned front and center of Copper’s base area offers spectators easy access to watch some of the world’s elite freeskiers and snowboarders.”

In snowboarding, look out for Kim and Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, Calif.) coming out of camp as the only two girls competing right now who have landed frontside double corks on snow. For the men, Toby Miller (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) is coming in hungry after successfully linking a front double cork 1260 to back double cork 1260 in Switzerland. Toby had more on his to-do list for Saas-Fee, but mother nature forced Miller to hold off until Copper. This should make for an exciting debut for World Cup halfpipe competition this season.

"My number one goal heading to the Saas Fee camp was to link two tricks together that I learned last spring," said Miller. "I was able to accomplish that and I can't wait to add them to my run at the Grand Prix."

Joining the athletes at Copper Mountain is a new addition to U.S. Ski & Snowboard coaching staff - Sochi Olympic Halfpipe Silver Medalist and now U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Pro Team Coach Mike Riddle. As a former athlete, Riddle offers an interesting perspective on early season competition.

"I'm really excited to be coaching the U.S. squad heading into the 2018-2019 competition circuit,” said Riddle. “The Grand Prix in Copper always sets the tone for the season. It's the event where everyone gets to see what all the other athletes have been working on all summer and see where you stack up against the competition. As a coach, my role will be to help the athletes get up to speed on their runs as quickly as possible and make the transition into comp season as seamless as possible."

The Toyota Grand Prix’s second and final stop will be at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area March 4-9, 2019. Mammoth Mountain’s Unbound Terrain Park consistently delivers a world-class slopestyle and halfpipe venue for both training and competition. Freeski and snowboard competition will commence on March 6 and finish on March 9. 

TOYOTA U.S. GRAND PRIX - COPPER MOUNTAIN
Event Schedule
*subject to change

Dec. 6: Freeski Halfpipe qualifications
Dec. 7: Snowboard Halfpipe qualifications
Dec. 8: Freeski Halfpipe Finals
Dec. 9: Snowboard Halfpipe Finals

HOW TO WATCH
*All Times EST

FREESKI
December 7, 2018
1:00 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports - Live

December 8
4:30 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC - Next-day broadcast

SNOWBOARD
December 8, 2018
1:00 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports - Live

December 9
12:30 p.m. - U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC - Next-day broadcast
 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes are fortunate enough to personally talk with and thank supporters that change their athletic careers throughout the season. But do they ever have the chance to thank the supporters of the country that make it all possible in the first place?

Eighteen-year-old U.S. Rookie Team snowboarder Jason Wolle (Winter Park, Colo.) was granted that opportunity. Ahead of the winter season, on September 28th Wolle traveled to Fort Carson, Colorado to visit multiple military bases and meet members of AM300 Solutions. He was invited earlier in the summer by retired Army Ranger and former Commander of the Charlie Troop, Task Force 300, Jesse Stewart.

“I interviewed Jason and quickly realized he was special,” reflected Stewart, “I invited him to Colorado Springs to execute a base visit to various military-related facilities and the USOC Headquarters.”  

During the visit, Wolle was able to meet with leaders of the military, complete the Task Force 300 workout, and participate in an entry-level tactical weapons class with Ranger and weapons tactics’ trainer, Seth Lewis. Although Wolle was impressive in his shooting and training skills, his favorite part was being able to talk to the members and veterans of the military.

“Talking with them and sharing our experiences has really motivated me to do better not only as a snowboarder but as a person. Over the course of the weekend I have received amazing advice that I plan to carry with me my entire life.”
    - U.S. Snowboard Rookie Team member Jason Wolle

In addition to sound advice, Wolle enjoyed a perspective athletes often don’t have the chance to experience or try to understand. Not by any fault of their own, but because of the very different environments they inhabit. By tying each individual to a common goal, it resulted in mutual understanding and a catalyst moving forward whether in athletics or serving in the armed forces.

“We sacrificed for this nation in order to see it prosper in every sense. If I can contribute to our Olympic success, then I'm honored for the opportunity to serve my country again,” said former Charlie Troop and Task Force 300 member Seth Lewis.

Wolle was also able to take part in a tour of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) headquarters alongside Stewart and Lewis. The USOC were gracious hosts, showing their guests around their first-rate campus. Wolle left excited for the competition that lies ahead for him after witnessing a high energy USA Wrestling practice before their departure.

Although the trip was only a few days, Wolle was able to learn more about the military, form relationships with some of the most notable military men in the country, and show his appreciation for their service.

“I have met some genuinely impressive and mentally tough people and it is through their efforts in the military that I am able to travel the world and snowboard safely and with peace of mind,” he said.

Alongside his supporters, both from the slopes and from the military, Wolle is ready to take on the season and perform well for his country. “Seth told me that he carried out his duty in the military and represented the United States overseas and that now it was my turn to do my part in the athletic community.”