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KILLINGTON, Vermont -- Vermont's Killington Resort will host more than 100 of the world's best snowboarders, including Olympians and World Champions battling for more than $130,000 in cash and prizes, at the finals of the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix at Bear Mountain March 15-16. The event will be broadcast on NBC March 29th at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Grammy-nominated group Shiny Toy Guns will perform prior to the halfpipe finals at Bear Mountain at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. This Los Angeles-based band brings a progressive electronica, indie and rock style beat and was nominated for the best electronic album of 2007. Their current hit Le Desko and Rainy Monday are topping the charts in the UK and Canada.
"After successfully hosting the U.S. Freestyle Championships the past two seasons, we're excited to switch gears and bring world-class snowboarding to Bear Mountain, showcasing our nationally recognized Superpipe and slopestyle terrain," said Dave Rathbun, Killington's director of sales and marketing. "The night finals combined with a performance by Shiny Toy Guns will offer our guests an unparalleled on-snow entertainment experience."
The Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix offers one of the largest overall purses in snowboarding, with prizes totaling more than $300,000, including a new Chevrolet truck awarded to the overall halfpipe champions at Killington. In addition, the Killington Grand Prix event is a Five-Star rated Swatch TTR World Tour event. Killington's 430-foot long Superpipe, featuring 18-foot walls, will host the Halfpipe competition on Saturday, March 15. The Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle will take place on Sunday, March 16 on Bear Mountain's Bear Claw Trail on a course built by Planet Snow Designs, which has designed courses for the Olympics, X Games and U.S. Open.
"The Killington Grand Prix is going to be an awesome event with a lot on the line," said U.S. Snowboarding Program Director Jeremy Forster. "Anything can happen in the overall tour titles as the points are so close, particularly with the men. We are also psyched to be partnering with TTR and hosting both the Halfpipe and Slopestyle as a 5-star World Tour events."
Through two Grand Prix events this season at Breckenridge, Colo. and Tamarack, Idaho, the overall Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe title is up for grabs at Killington between U.S. Snowboarding Team member Elijah Teter (1,200 points) of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 2006 Olympic gold medalist Shawn White (1,000) of Carlsbad, Calif. and U.S. Snowboarding Team member Louie Vito (1,000) of Sandy, Utah. White won the first Halfpipe event at Breckenridge as Vito won at Tamarack. Teter's solid third-place showing in both events has landed him atop the overall standings. U.S. Snowboarding Team member Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, Colo. and Gregory Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, Calif. are tied for third overall with 800 points each and well within reach of the overall title.
For the women, 2002 Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark (1,800), Dover, Vt. leads the overall half pipe standings following a victory at Tamarack and a second-place showing at Breckenridge. Clark virtually has the overall title locked up, but U.S. Snowboarding Team members Ellery Hollingsworth (1,100), Stratton, Vt. and Gretchen Blieler (1,000), Aspen, Colo. are both ready to step into the limelight if Clark falters at Killington.
Athletes are awarded 1,000 points for a victory, 800 points for second, 600 for third, 500 for fourth and 450 for fifth. In addition, to a new Chevy truck for the overall Halfpipe champion, the Killington Halfpipe winners (men and women) will walk away with $14,000 in prize money.
For Sunday's The Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle event, the winner's will each receive $7,500. Plus, the Rip It best trick of the day will be awarded $2,500.
Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Schedule
Killington Resort
March 15-16
Saturday, March 15
9:15 a.m. Men's Halfpipe Qualifier
2:00 p.m. Women's Halfpipe Qualifier
5:00 p.m. Shiny Toy Guns performs live on stage at Bear Mountain
7:00 p.m. Halfpipe Finals
Sunday, March 16
8:30 a.m. Men's Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Qualifier
11:30 a.m. Women's Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Qualifier
1:30 p.m. Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Finals
All events are free to the public for viewing and the finish area for both events is an easy hike from the Bear Mountain day lodge. Weekend Ski & Stay packages are available for the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix starting at $112 per person / per night.
Grammy-nominated group Shiny Toy Guns will perform prior to the halfpipe finals at Bear Mountain at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15. This Los Angeles-based band brings a progressive electronica, indie and rock style beat and was nominated for the best electronic album of 2007. Their current hit Le Desko and Rainy Monday are topping the charts in the UK and Canada.
"After successfully hosting the U.S. Freestyle Championships the past two seasons, we're excited to switch gears and bring world-class snowboarding to Bear Mountain, showcasing our nationally recognized Superpipe and slopestyle terrain," said Dave Rathbun, Killington's director of sales and marketing. "The night finals combined with a performance by Shiny Toy Guns will offer our guests an unparalleled on-snow entertainment experience."
The Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix offers one of the largest overall purses in snowboarding, with prizes totaling more than $300,000, including a new Chevrolet truck awarded to the overall halfpipe champions at Killington. In addition, the Killington Grand Prix event is a Five-Star rated Swatch TTR World Tour event. Killington's 430-foot long Superpipe, featuring 18-foot walls, will host the Halfpipe competition on Saturday, March 15. The Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle will take place on Sunday, March 16 on Bear Mountain's Bear Claw Trail on a course built by Planet Snow Designs, which has designed courses for the Olympics, X Games and U.S. Open.
"The Killington Grand Prix is going to be an awesome event with a lot on the line," said U.S. Snowboarding Program Director Jeremy Forster. "Anything can happen in the overall tour titles as the points are so close, particularly with the men. We are also psyched to be partnering with TTR and hosting both the Halfpipe and Slopestyle as a 5-star World Tour events."
Through two Grand Prix events this season at Breckenridge, Colo. and Tamarack, Idaho, the overall Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix halfpipe title is up for grabs at Killington between U.S. Snowboarding Team member Elijah Teter (1,200 points) of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 2006 Olympic gold medalist Shawn White (1,000) of Carlsbad, Calif. and U.S. Snowboarding Team member Louie Vito (1,000) of Sandy, Utah. White won the first Halfpipe event at Breckenridge as Vito won at Tamarack. Teter's solid third-place showing in both events has landed him atop the overall standings. U.S. Snowboarding Team member Steve Fisher, Breckenridge, Colo. and Gregory Bretz, Mammoth Lakes, Calif. are tied for third overall with 800 points each and well within reach of the overall title.
For the women, 2002 Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark (1,800), Dover, Vt. leads the overall half pipe standings following a victory at Tamarack and a second-place showing at Breckenridge. Clark virtually has the overall title locked up, but U.S. Snowboarding Team members Ellery Hollingsworth (1,100), Stratton, Vt. and Gretchen Blieler (1,000), Aspen, Colo. are both ready to step into the limelight if Clark falters at Killington.
Athletes are awarded 1,000 points for a victory, 800 points for second, 600 for third, 500 for fourth and 450 for fifth. In addition, to a new Chevy truck for the overall Halfpipe champion, the Killington Halfpipe winners (men and women) will walk away with $14,000 in prize money.
For Sunday's The Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle event, the winner's will each receive $7,500. Plus, the Rip It best trick of the day will be awarded $2,500.
Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Schedule
Killington Resort
March 15-16
Saturday, March 15
9:15 a.m. Men's Halfpipe Qualifier
2:00 p.m. Women's Halfpipe Qualifier
5:00 p.m. Shiny Toy Guns performs live on stage at Bear Mountain
7:00 p.m. Halfpipe Finals
Sunday, March 16
8:30 a.m. Men's Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Qualifier
11:30 a.m. Women's Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Qualifier
1:30 p.m. Paul Mitchell Progression Session Slopestyle Finals
All events are free to the public for viewing and the finish area for both events is an easy hike from the Bear Mountain day lodge. Weekend Ski & Stay packages are available for the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix starting at $112 per person / per night.
