Race to the Cup Begins Nov. 12

Derek DeGrenier November 06, 2009

PARK CITY, UT (Nov. 3) - With winter fast approaching, alpine snowboarders across the map are looking to kickoff the season with the start of the Race to the Cup tour. The series accounts for the alpine snowboarding NorAm tour and that begins Nov. 12-13 at Copper, CO.

The Race to the Cup tour will hold events at three different locations this season starting with Copper and moving on to Steamboat Springs, CO Dec. 11-12. The third leg of the series will occur Feb. 4-5 at Mt. Bachelor, OR. The NorAm finals, which bring the circuit back to Steamboat Springs, will wrap up the Race to the Cup tour March 25-26.

All of the top U.S Snowboarding alpine athletes will be competing in the event, including names like Michelle Gorgone (Boston), Tyler Jewell (Steamboat Springs, CO), who represent the U.S. in the parallel giant slalom with multiple World Cup podiums between them. Also competing are Justin Reiter (Steamboat Springs, CO), Adam Smith (Bend, OR), and Vic Wild (White Salmon, WA).

"The Race to the Cup is the premier NorAm alpine snowboard tour in the U.S. This tour is the springboard for athletes to advance to the World Cup tour," said U.S. Snowboarding Program Manager Abbi Nyberg. "The Race to the Cup has launched athletes like Justin Reiter and Michelle Gorgone on to World Cup podiums. In its eighth season we are looking forward to another great year full of racing at some of the top venues in the U.S."

One of the earliest events to take place this year, the Race to the Cup will include a large crop of international athletes from around the world gathering in Copper looking to dial in their riding before the season gets underway. Some of the nations include Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Japan. It also allows U.S athletes some practice time as they look to start qualifying for the 2010 Games through the World Cup.

With U.S. athletes healthy and ready to compete, they have their eyes on the podium along with up to $12,000 in prize money. All of the event info can be found on the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association website.

The action kicks off next week. Look to catch some of the top athletes tear it up on snow in Copper, CO as they look towards being Vancouver Bound.

2009-10 NorAm Race to the Cup Tour Schedule
Nov. 11-12 Copper, CO - PGS, PGS

Dec. 11-12 Steamboat Springs, CO - PGS, PSL

Feb. 4-5 Mt. Bachelor, OR - PGS, PGS

March 25-26 Steamboat Springs, CO - PGS, PSL (finals)