While some World Cup contests already went down, the world’s best halfpipe riders are getting ready to kick off their northern hemisphere season at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, Colorado from 11 to 14 December. The event will be a season opener for the halfpipe snowboarders.
As US Ski & Snowboard announced:
The U.S. Grand Prix is more than just another stop on the World Cup Circuit. This is the 24th season of Grand Prix competition and the 11th year of the Copper Mountain Resort Grand Prix partnership. It’s no coincidence that the relationship between Copper Mountain, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and athletes from across the globe has been so successful.
“Copper Mountain’s commitment to producing excellent early season conditions, fostering an environment of progression, and opening their arms to world-class athletes is what makes Copper the ideal venue for World Cup halfpipe competition,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Event Director Nick Alexakos. “Year after year, Copper continues to produce a 22-foot Olympic sized superpipe available for training and competition. This is no small feat. Building a quality superpipe demands significant time, resources, and skilled terrain park staff, but Copper has never shied away from the challenge.”
Maddie Mastro will lead the way for the women of U.S. Snowboard Team and is focussed on finally earning what has been an elusive first-place finish. She placed second in 2017 and 2018, but has never come in with this much momentum. Maddie finished the season making history at the U.S. Open by landing the first-ever double crippler in the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition.
“I’m looking forward to kicking off the season at Copper,” said Maddie. “I have done well there in years past, but have yet to take the top spot. I feel I had a strong season last year and can hopefully continue to put my best snowboarding on display. Copper should be a great competition and I look forward to reconnecting with the halfpipe community.”
For the men, Toby Miller and Chase Josey will be looking to repeat their early-season success from 2018. Last year, Toby earned his first-ever World Cup podium with a second-place finish at the Copper Grand Prix alongside teammate Chase Josey in third place. Both Toby and Chase went on to swap podium positions at the Dew Tour only a week later. Miller and Josey both have proved there is no need to shake off the cobwebs early in the year podiuming at the first two events of the 2018-19 season. However, they have some stiff competition with Australian Scotty James looking to defend his title.
The Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix’s second and final stop will be at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area from 29 Januray to 1 February. Mammoth Mountain’s Unbound Terrain Park consistently delivers a world-class venue for both training and competition. This season’s Grand Prix will feature both slopestyle and halfpipe competition. More info on this event is coming soon.
Join the event at Copper Mountain live or tune in below to catch the action from home.
LAND ROVER U.S. GRAND PRIX – COPPER MOUNTAIN
Event Schedule
*Subject to change
December 14, 2019
2:00 p.m. – Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain – NBC Sports
December 21, 2019
4:00 p.m. – Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain – NBC*
HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Preliminary broadcast schedule, subject to change
Streaming schedule TBA
*Delayed broadcast
Source: FIS and US Ski & Snowboard
