US Ski Team, NBC partner on live coverage

By Published On: August 28th, 2012Comments Off on US Ski Team, NBC partner on live coverage

When the first racer of the second run steps into the start gate in Beaver Creek on Dec. 2, the U.S. will have the ability to tune in as NBC and the U.S. Ski Team recently announced the network will air the second run of the Birds of Prey men’s giant slalom live on the NBC Sports Network.

It’s just one of the 11 ski and snowboard events that will be broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports this winter.

“Broadcasting the Audi Birds of Prey giant slalom live is a huge step forward in showing the intensity and excitement of alpine skiing to the U.S. audience. It’s one of the best races of the season,” said Ted Ligety.

The broadcast is part of an extensive coverage package between NBC and the U.S. Ski Association that will include 11 hours on NBC and 22 hours on the NBC Sports Network, including coverage of the Nature Valley Winternational from Aspen Thanksgiving weekend.

“Broadcasting our World Cups from Aspen and Beaver Creek live is a great way to promote the thrill of alpine ski racing and build excitement for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi,” said gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. “NBC did an amazing job with the London Olympics and its coverage continued to prove how passionate Americans are for Olympic sports.

The broadcast initiative is part of a concerted effort by the USSA under new Chief Marketing Officer Mike Jaquet to grow the public awareness of its sports through television and digital distribution. The broadcast schedule also includes events in Telluride, Colo., Copper Mountain, Colo., Lake Placid, N.Y., Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, Canyons Resort, Utah, Squaw Valley, Calif., and Heavenly, Calif.

The broadcast schedule features the most same-day and same-weekend coverage ever, including two live programs from the Audi FIS World Cup. Key events from the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix will run next day on NBC showcasing new Olympic sports in freeskiing and snowboarding.

“Our partner NBC has helped us take some huge steps in developing a more relevant broadcast schedule with not only live broadcasts but more same weekend coverage than ever,” said USSA chief marketing officer Michael Jaquet. “Across all of our sports, including alpine, freeskiing, freestyle and snowboarding, we have the most impactful broadcast schedule ever which will help us grow viewership and increase the value of our sports for our fans, partners and athletes.”


2012-13 USSA NBC/NBC Sports schedule

NOTE: NBC Sports Network programming listed below is confirmed with final times to be announced this fall.

Nature Valley Aspen Winternational, Aspen, CO – Nov. 24-25
NBC: Sunday, Nov. 25 – 1 p.m. ET (women’s GS, next day)
NBC Sports: Sunday, Nov. 25 – 2-4 p.m. ET (women’s SL, LIVE)

Audi Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek, CO – Nov. 30-Dec. 2
NBC: Sunday, Dec. 2 – 1 p.m. ET (men’s DH, same weekend)
NBC Sports: Sunday, Dec. 2 – 3-4 p.m. ET (men’s GS, LIVE)
NBC Sports: Super G TBD

USANA U.S. Snowboardcross Cup, Telluride, CO, Dec. 13-15
NBC: Saturday, Dec. 22 – 3 p.m. ET (SX, SBX, next weekend)
NBC Sports: Team SBX, time TBD

Sprint U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix, Park City, UT, Dec. 20-23
NBC: Sunday, Dec. 23 – 2-3:30 p.m. ET (ski/SB halfpipe, next day)
NBC Sports: Halfpipe skiing, time TBD
NBC Sports: Halfpipe snowboarding, time TBD

Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix, Copper Mountain, CO, Jan. 9-12

NBC: Saturday, Jan. 12 – 2 p.m. ET (halfpipe/slopestyle, next day)
NBC Sports: HP/SS Freeskiing, time TBD

Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, Copper Mountain, CO, Jan. 9-12

NBC: Sunday, Jan. 13 – 3:30 p.m. ET (next day)
NBC Sports: HP/SS Snowboarding, time TBD

USANA U.S. Freestyle Cup, Lake Placid, NY, Jan. 17-19

NBC: Sunday, Jan. 20 – 3 p.m. ET (moguls/aerials, next day)
NBC Sports: Moguls, time TBD
NBC Sports: Aerials, time TBD

Visa Freestyle International, Deer Valley Resort, Park City, UT, Jan. 31-Feb. 2

NBC: Saturday, Feb. 9 – 2 p.m. ET (moguls, next weekend)
NBC Sports: Aerials, time TBD

Sprint U.S. Grand Prix, Canyons Resort, Park City, UT, Mar. 1-3
NBC: Saturday, Mar. 9 – 12:30 p.m. ET (SX, SBX, next weekend)
NBC Sports: Skicross, time TBD
NBC Sports: SBX, time TBD

Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships, Squaw Valley, CA, Mar. 20-24

NBC: Sunday, Mar. 24 – Noon ET (same weekend)

U.S. Freestyle Championships, Heavenly, CA, Mar. 29-31
NBC Sports: TBD

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About the Author: Geoff Mintz

Geoff Mintz is a former alpine ski racer who cut his teeth at Ragged Mountain and Waterville Valley, N.H. After graduating from Holderness and UVM, he relocated to Colorado, where he worked on the hill prior to pursuing a career in journalism. Mintz served as associate editor for Ski Racing Media from 2011 to 2015. He later reconnected with his local roots to manage all marketing and communications for Ski & Snowboard Club Vail before resuming work at SRM as editor-in-chief.