Chevrolet Grand Prix schedule set for Bachelor, Breckenridge and Mountain Creek

Chevrolet Grand Prix schedule set for Bachelor, Breckenridge and Mountain Creek{mosimage}The Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix schedule is set for the 2005 and 2006 seasons with three sites signed on to host the series for the next two years. The sites boast a long tradition with U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, and include Breckenridge, Colorado, Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, and Mountain Creek, New Jersey, which hit a home run last season hosting its first Grand Prix event.

The Grand Prix now in its ninth season is considered the premier snowboard competition in the United States, providing American riders a clear path to qualifying for the Olympics.

‘These venues in particular are quality, proven sites where we know our riders will feel comfortable in their quest to qualify for the Olympic team’ said Annette Royle, USSA vice president of events. ‘We’re excited that USSA will be able to offer them the continuity of this schedule heading into the Olympic season.’

In addition to the two-year agreements with the Grand Prix venues, Royle announced that Lake Placid, which is set to host its first snowboard World Cup March 4-6, 2005, also has signed on to stage the event in 2006. This year will be the venue’s first time hosting a snowboard World Cup and will feature all three Olympic snowboard disciplines including snowboardcross (SBX), which will debut in Torino in 2006.

‘Having these two-year agreements confirms the value of USSA’s snowboard event properties’ said Royle. ‘Multi-year agreements make good business sense for both USSA and the venue, allowing each party to leverage the maximum out of the partnership.’

The 2005 season once again will offer one of the largest overall purses for a snowboarding series $300,000 along with the best broadcast package for the sport on NBC, America’s Olympic network, as well as rebroadcasts and special presentations of exhibition events presented by the Outdoor Life Network. OLN, which reaches 59 million homes, recently entered a multi-year agreement with USSA to broadcast 22 hours of original programming along with multiple re-airs throughout the winter.

Royle noted that it was a goal to secure venues in three distinct regions in order to capitalize on the industry and fans unique to all areas of the country. The series’ sites provide riders nationwide access to Olympic qualifying events, which are ‘open’ competitions.

‘The Grand Prix venues have made strong commitments to the sport of snowboarding’ said Royle. ‘Breckenridge has become a classic snowboard site for us and provides us access to the Rocky Mountain market. Mt. Bachelor will host the only Grand Prix SBX event and features a spectacular finish area for spectators within steps of the base facilities. Finally, with its proximity to New York City, we believe Mountain Creek provides us an untapped market in the East. We hope to grow our spectator numbers as well as the exposure opportunities that are only available in the region.’

The 2004-2005 Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix schedule (TV dates and times included):

Dec. 18-20, 2004, Breckenridge Ski Resort: Saturday, Dec. 18 halfpipe qualifications and evening exhibition; Sunday, Dec. 19 halfpipe finals; Monday, Dec. 20 parallel giant slalom (NBC Dec. 26, 2004, 3 p.m. ET; OLN airdates TBA)

Jan. 7-9, 2005, Mt. Bachelor Resort: Friday, Jan. 7 halfpipe qualifications; Saturday, Jan. 8 halfpipe finals and big air exhibition; Sunday, Jan. 9 snowboardcross (NBC Jan. 16, 2005, 5 p.m. ET; OLN airdates TBA)

Feb. 4-5, 2005, Mountain Creek Resort: Friday, Feb. 4 halfpipe qualifications; Saturday, Feb. 5 halfpipe finals under the lights; exhibition TBA (NBC Feb. 20, 2005, 2 p.m. ET; OLN airdates TBA)

The series kicks off in Breckenridge, which returns to the Grand Prix circuit since hosting a series’ stop in 2003. Breckenridge, home to standout U.S. Snowboarding rider Steve Fisher, has consistently been rated as having the best pipes and terrain park in the country.

Last year, Mt. Bachelor hosted the lone snowboard domestic World Cup, which was won by U.S. Snowboarding rider Lindsey Jacobellis en route to her fourth-straight World Cup victory. The venue’s reliable, record snowfall has made Mt. Bachelor a regular site for the U.S. Snowboard Team’s spring training camp.

In February, the series concludes in Mountain Creek, where the 2006 Olympic snowboard team will be announced. With its close proximity to New York City and creative staging of the halfpipe finals under the lights, Mountain Creek is expected to draw even larger crowds than last year and is quickly becoming a top snowboarding venue boasting a world-class superpipe and terrain park.