Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Debuts New Qualification Process
Park City, Utah - For more than a decade, the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix series has been a leader in snowboarding progression. Now in its 12th year, the series debuts a new qualification process in order to accommodate the outstanding growth and the depth of U.S. talent, Grand Prix Tour Director Eric Webster announced.
New for 2008: U.S. rider entries for all three Chevrolet Grand Prix events - Breckenridge, CO, Tamarack, ID, and Killington, VT - will shift to a qualification system based on results from the previous season. Registration for international riders will remain open for all contests.
"Moving to a qualification process is a testament to how big snowboarding has become in the U.S," said Webster. "There are so many talented riders out there right now that the Chevrolet Grand Prix simply cannot accommodate the large field sizes in the existing format. That's why U.S. Snowboarding created the Chevrolet Revolution Tour two years ago. It provides a pipeline for up-and-coming riders advancing through the ranks and on to the next level, the Grand Prix.
Additional national events that qualify riders for the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix include the Vans Cup, US Open and USASA Open Division Nationals.
"This is the next step we need to take to continue providing the highest quality event possible to allow riders to excel."
For the past two winters and continuing into the 2008 season, the Grand Prix will align with the Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour (TTR) as Killington hosts the second to last TTR event of the season. At the conclusion of the season, the TTR awards male and female champions based on athlete point totals from freestyle events held across the globe.
"The Grand Prix continues to progress snowboarding because all the top riders are there. So, everyone pushes it that much more and new tricks are learned at every event," said U.S. Snowboarding Pro rider Scotty Lago. "Plus there's mad prize money for the riders and the pipes are always in the best shape."
Complete details on the 2008 Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix tour, including detailed criteria on the entry process and a list of pre-qualified riders, can be found at HERE
2008 Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Schedule:
Dec. 14-15, 2007 - Breckenridge Resort, CO
Friday, Dec. 14 - Halfpipe qualifiers
Saturday, Dec. 15 - Halfpipe finals and the Paul Mitchell Progression Session downtown exhibition
Feb. 9-10, 2008 - Tamarack Resort, ID
Friday, Feb. 8 - Halfpipe qualifiers
Saturday, Feb. 9 - Halfpipe finals
Sunday, Feb. 10 - Snowboardcross qualifier and finals
March 15-16, 2008 - Killington Resort, VT
Saturday, March 15 - Halfpipe qualifiers and night finals with concert
Sunday, March 16 - Paul Mitchell Progression Session, a slopestyle event
Michael Goldschmidt at the 2007 Tamarack Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix