2009 US FREESKIING OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS, PRESENTED BY WOODWARD AT COPPER, RETURNS TO COPPER MOUNTAIN, FEBRUARY 26 - 28, WITH A JUN

The 12th annual US Freeskiing Open Championships brings professional and amateur skier halfpipe athletes together to compete for $20,000

Check out the newly re-launched website www.usfreeskiingopen.com

The US Freeskiing Open presented by Woodward at Copper is right around the corner and Mountain Sports International (MSI) is excited to outline our priorities and goals for this year and beyond. As many of you already know, due to the difficult economic times, we had to make some difficult choices and reduce the schedule to a Halfpipe only event. Canceling the event for 2009 was not an option and Slopestyle and Big Air will be a part of the schedule in 2010. With the long-term goal of seeing Freeskiing in the Olympics, we felt that producing a world-class pipe event with fantastic hospitality (lots of free food and Woodward facility), plenty of practice time, and a killer live broadcast was the top priority. In addition, we also wanted to create an opportunity for the next generations of Freeskiers to gain competition experience via the new Jr. Jam event on Sunday.

“The US Open gives aspiring kids the chance to become professional skiers,” said US Open Big Air Champion TJ Schiller. “The event was built and designed so young amateurs could come test their skills against the best. Without the US Open I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I do today.”

OUR PRIORITIES –
+ Quality Venue – Quality Pipe – Quality Judges
+ Practice, Practice, Practice
+ Athlete Hospitality / Entertainment – Parties, Meals, Use of the New Woodward Facility
➢    Wahoos Fish Tacos will be providing lunch every day
➢    Athlete party and Session at the Woodward Barn on Friday www.woodwardatcopper.com
➢    Woodward Launch party BBQ on Saturday
➢    Freeskier and Coors party and Riley Poor Fundraiser on Saturday
+ New Jr. Halfpipe Jam
+ Live broadcast all day on Friday and Saturday
+ Committed Supporters and Sponsors in Copper / Camp Woodward
+ Great lodging Deals – Rates as low as $111.00 / night! – www.usfreeskiingopen.com for more details
+ $20,000.00 in prize money
+ New website – www.usfreeskiingopen.com

There are still a few registration spots available for Pipe… sign up now at www.usfreeskiingopen


 Athlete Schedule  February 26th- March 1st, 2009
Thursday, February 26th    Registration/Practice
8:00am-3:00pm        Athlete Registration/Media Office            Village square conference center
9:00am-3:30pm        Open pipe practice                Main Vein Superpipe   
11:30am–1:30pm        WAHOO’S TACOS ATHLETE LUNCH        Main Vein Superpipe
4:00pm-4:30pm        Athlete meeting                    Village square conference center

Friday, February 27th    Men / Women Superpipe Qualifier       
8:00am-3:00pm        Athlete Registration/Media Office            Village square conference center
8:00am            Athlete Lifts                    American Eagle Lift
8:15am-9:00am        Men’s practice                    Main Vein Superpipe
9:00am-1:30pm        Men’s qualifier Heat 1-4                Main Vein Superpipe
11:30am–1:30pm        WAHOO’S TACOS ATHLETE LUNCH        Main Vein Superpipe
1:30pm–2:00pm        Women’s practice                Main Vein Superpipe
2:00pm-3:00pm        Women’s qualifier Heat 1/2            Main Vein Superpipe
4:00pm-4:30pm        Athlete meeting                    Village square conference center
4:30pm-8:00pm        WOODWARD ATHLETE PARTY        Woodward at Copper Barn

Saturday, Feb 28th        Men / Women -Semis/Finals
8:00am-3:00pm        Athlete Registration/Media Office            Village square conference center
8:00am            Athlete Lifts                    American Eagle Lift
8:15am-9:00am        Women’s Semis practice                Main Vein Superpipe
9:00am-10:00am        Women’s Semi finals heat 1-2            Main Vein Superpipe
10:00am-11:00am    Men’s Semis practice                Main Vein Superpipe
11:00am-12:30pm    Men’s Semi finals heat 1-2            Main Vein Superpipe
11:30am–1:30pm        WAHOO’S TACOS ATHLETE LUNCH        Main Vein Superpipe
12:30pm-1:00pm        Pipe maintenance / Practice            Main Vein Superpipe
1:00pm-2:00pm        Women’s Finals start                Main Vein Superpipe
2:00pm-3:00pm        Men’s Finals start                Main Vein Superpipe
3:15pm            Pipe Awards                    Main Vein Superpipe
4:00pm-8:00pm        WOODWARD GRAND OPENING PARTY    Woodward at Copper Barn
9:00pm-1:00am        COORS / FREESKIER MAG PARTY         Storm King Lounge

Sunday, March 1st        Junior Superpipe Jam
8:00am-2:00pm        Athlete Registration/Media Office            Village square conference center
8:30am            Athlete Lifts                    American Eagle Lift
9:00am-9:45am        Junior Boys practice                 Main Vein Superpipe
10:00am-10:45am    Junior Boys semi finals                Main Vein Superpipe
10:45am-11:30am    Junior Girls and Boys Finals Practice        Main Vein Superpipe
11:30am–1:30pm        WAHOO’S TACOS ATHLETE LUNCH        Main Vein Superpipe
11:30am-12:15pm    Junior Girls Finals                Main Vein Superpipe
12:30pm-1:15pm        Junior Boys Finals                Main Vein Superpipe
1:30pm            Awards                        Main Vein Superpipe


“Copper is pleased to be the home of the US Freeskiing Open for the third year,” said Copper President and COO Gary Rodgers.  “Copper’s Superpipe will be home to yet another world class competition hosting freeskiing’s top talent, while each competitor gets a taste of Woodward at Copper – the first training facility dedicated to terrain park and pipe progression.”

All athletes over the age of 13 are invited to register for the USFO. Continuing to invest in the future of the sport of freeskiing, MSI has created the Junior Halfpipe Jam, which accepts 6 to 12 year olds. In fostering a new generation of freeskiers and providing a competition platform, even the youngest of athletes is able to gain the experience to someday reach the Olympic Games and beyond.

Since the early 1980s Camp Woodward has been working with top athletes to design and implement progressive freestyle training methods and tools. Copper Mountain and Camp Woodward have teamed up to offer a first of its kind training facility, winter programs, summer camps and more, all dedicated to terrain park and halfpipe progression. Skiers from around the globe flock to Woodward at Copper to gain awareness and master technique on a series of features including trampolines, foam pits and spring floors before heading out on the hill. Participants in the 2009 USFO will have access to Woodward at Copper facilities.

“We are pleased to have Woodward at Copper as this year’s presenting sponsor of the US Freeskiing Open,” said MSI President Adam Comey. “Woodward at Copper is an innovator of action sports skill-development which makes the partnership between the USFO, the athletes and Camp Woodward a perfect fit. We are also excited to offer athletes access to the world-class Woodward at Copper facilities.”

LIVE WEBCAST
Two full days of live video webcast coverage of the US Freeskiing Open will begin at 10am MST, on February 27, at www.usfreeskiingopen.com, with the finals airing live on Saturday afternoon. Daily photo and blog updates will accompany the webcast, offering fans around the world a virtual multimedia experience.

THE US FREESKIING OPEN JUDGES

NAME: Mike Atkinson, Head Judge
AGE: 32
RESIDES: Whistler, B.C.
PROFESSIONAL STATS/OTHER EVENTS JUDGED: X-Games, Dew Tour, European open, Nippon Open, World ski and snowboard festival
YEARS SKIING: 26
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Former Canadian freestyle ski team, best time ever was placing in the top 3 in ARE Sweden...a long time ago…..what a town ….what a party.
LOWDOWN: Member of the new Canadian air force that help introduce twin tip skiing and new school skiing.
FILMOGRAPHY:
SPONSORS:

NAME: Phillippe Belanger
AGE:  28
RESIDES: Lac-beauport, Quebec
PROFESSIONAL STATS/OTHER EVENTS JUDGED: X-Game 2008, USFO 2008, Icer Air 2007, X-Game 2009, Dew Tour Breck 2008, Dew Tour Vermont 2009, Dew Tour Tahoe 2009
YEARS SKIING:  10
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Us open winner 2000, competed at x-game for 5 years, Global x 2, Won Paul Mitchell, Won X Qualifier
LOWDOWN: Own the biggest freekiing shop in the world, D-structure.www.d-structure.com
SPONSORS: Liberty, Smith Optics, and D-Structure.

NAME:  Omar Otte
AGE:  28
RESIDES: Truckee, CA
PROFESSIONAL STATS/OTHER EVENTS JUDGED: 48 Straight 2007, US Open 2007, Dew Tour 2008
YEARS SKIING: 23
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
LOWDOWN: Involved in the ski industry for many years, Copper freeride team 1999-2005. Coached at Camp of Champions for seven years.
FILMOGRAPHY: Warren Miller Entertainment, TGR, Mercon Industries, Filthy Rich Productions
SPONSORS: Armada Skis, Brad Holmes, Elite Feet Boot Shop, Filthy Rich Productions

NAME:  Steele Spence 
AGE: 25
RESIDES: Snowmass Village, CO
PROFESSIONAL STATS/OTHER EVENTS JUDGED: 2008 USFO, 2008 European Open, 2008 Aspen/Snowmass Open, 2008 Dew AST (Breck), 2009 Winter X Games, 2009 Dew AST (Tahoe)
YEARS SKIING: 22
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Five time X-Games competitor, 2nd place Red Bull Big Air, Are Sweden; 1st place Rip Curl Freeski Pro Big Air, Saas Fee, CH; 1st place Overall Freeski Pro, Mt Hotham, AUS; 2nd Place X-Games Qualifier, Northstar Tahoe
LOWDOWN: In 2000 I officially transitioned from moguls to park and pipe, and gained recognition in the industry with my first break out segment in Pow Pow Productions film "Unknown."   Until the 2006/2007 season, I competed in many major events. In 2003 I became a partner in the independent ski company, 4frnt Skis, and contribute to the brand as an athlete as well as utilizing my degree in graphic design as 4frnt's recently appointed Creative Director.
FILMOGRAPHY: Pow Pow Productions, Poor Boyz Productions, Warren Miller Entertainment, Matchstick Productions, Level 1 Productions, TGR
SPONSORS: Aspen/Snowmass, 4FRNT Skis, Smith Optics, Tecnica, Orage Outerwear

NAME:  Chris Hawks
AGE:  36
RESIDES: Breckenridge, CO
YEARS SKIING: 36
PROFESSIONAL STATS/OTHER EVENTS JUDGED: X games and every other domestic event.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: I have been a pro skier since the beginning. Pro mogul tour, First US Open. Three X Games, almost all US Opens, Bumps and Jumps.
LOWDOWN: I own a Freeride program based out of Breckenridge Colorado.
FILMOGRAPHY:     TGR
SPONSORS:

FORMAT:
The US Freeskiing Open will be judged on a two (2) run format for qualifying runs. For the semi’s and final runs, the best out of three (3) runs will be judged, with the lowest score being dropped. The Junior Jam will be a jam session only, with judges voting on the best runs of the session.

REGISTRATION FEE
To register, please go to www.usfreeskiingopen.com.  It is $165 to register, which includes a three (3) day lift ticket.  Regardless if you have a Copper pass, the fee does not change.  For the Junior Jam the registration fee is $65 and includes a two (2) day lift ticket. 

PRIZE MONEY
MEN:
1st    6,000
2nd    3,000
3rd    2,000
4th    1,000
5th       600
6th       400

WOMEN:
1st    3,500
2nd    2,000
3rd    1,000
4th       500

MEDIA COVERAGE
Media and photographers from around the country are traveling to Copper Mountain Resort for the US Freeskiing Open, including the Ski Channel, Freeskier Magazine, The Summit Daily, Vail Daily Press, Powder Magazine, Newschoolers.com, and The Onion.

DISCOUNTED LODGING FOR ATHLETES AND FAMILY
Please telephone Copper Mountain Reservations at (866) 837-2996.  Reference the Group Code  “3GB7XU” and/or Group Name, “US Freesking Open.”
    Room    Rate    Room    Rate
                
Gold Standard Room    $160    Silver Standard Room    $142
Gold Deluxe Studio    $187    Silver Studio    $178
Gold One Bedroom    $214    Silver Efficiency    $142
Gold One Bedroom Den    $250    Silver One Bedroom    $205
Gold Two Bedroom    $338    Silver One Bedroom Loft    $241
Gold Three Bedroom    $553    Silver Two Bedroom    $318
Gold Four Bedroom    $608    Silver Two Bedroom Loft    $356
Bronze Standard Room    $124    Silver Three Bedroom    $472
Bronze One Bedroom    $197    Silver Three Bedroom Loft    $589
Bronze One Bedroom Loft    $232    Platinum One Bedroom    $250
Bronze Two Bedroom    $278            Platinum Two Bedroom    $374

For more information and to register please go to www.usfreeskiingopen.com.

The US Freeskiing Open
Halfpipe - February 26-28, 2009
Junior Halfpipe Jam – March 1, 2009

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Woodward at Copper
Copper Mountain
Skiing Magazine
Skinet.com
The Ski Channel
Mountain Sports International


REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND ATHLETE INQUIRIES CONTACT
Sara Pinsoneault
Athlete Communications
Mountain Sports International
801.349.4650
sarap@mtsports.com

MEDIA INQUIRES AND FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Cara Williams
PR, Communications & Media Manager
Mountain Sports International
801.349.4608
cara@mtsports.com

Justine Chellel
Marketing & Sales Coordinator
Mountain Sports International
801-349.4606
jchellel@mtsports.com

About the US Freeskiing Open
The US Freeskiing Open is the longest running premiere Freeskiing event in North America. Eleven years ago, the inaugural USFO gathered Freeskiing's biggest hopefuls for the first Slopestyle skiing competition ever. The next year, a Halfpipe discipline was added, and scores of unknown skiers poured in to help shape the sport. The event has served as a launching pad for countless new school skiers including Tanner Hall, J.P. Auclair, T.J. Schiller, Sammy Carlson and Copper's own Taylor Seaton.

About SKIING
Designed and edited for those who live to ski, Skiing magazine serves up equal parts inspiration and information; it's the passionate, athletic skier's guidebook to the sport of skiing. Skiing readers love to challenge themselves, whether jumping out of a helicopter, climbing a peak or just going as fast as the patrol will allow. Skiing is a business of Bonnier Corporation's Mountain Sports Media and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Bonnier Corporation is a multi-media company whose enterprises include leading magazines, websites, television and radio programming, feature films, events and exhibitions.

About Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain is a full inclusive resort with three distinct villages (The East Village, The Village at Copper and Union Creek) ideally suited for different personalities, all within easy walking distance of the slopes and activities. Copper has 17 mountain establishments located in the East Village and The Village at Copper for coffee, fine dining, quick bites and grill options. For those guests seeking other recreational pursuits, Copper offers snow tubing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, scenic sleigh rides, snowmobiling, an athletic club and ice skating.  For up-to-date weather, photos and more, visit www.coppercolorado.com.  For Winter 08/09, Copper introduces Woodward at Copper, a first-of-its-kind year round training facility dedicated to skiing and snowboarding, www.woodwardatcopper.com.


About MSI
Mountain Sports International (MSI) is a private company, founded in 1997, to develop and produce action/adventure sports events and programming in North America. MSI owns and produces the U.S. Freeskiing Series, the U.S. Skiercross Series, and the Freeskiing World Tour, in addition to several other properties and concepts.

MSI provides event management services for Burton, Salomon, and Red Bull and has provided infrastructure and expertise for the NBC Gravity Games and ESPN Action Sports Projects, including the Tony Hawk Gigantic Skatepark Tour. MSI specializes in matching clients with events for brand penetration into target demographics, developing product identification and loyalty. MSI matches brand and culture, company and credibility to create sought-after events that help to define the action sports culture.