U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix

The Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix was created in 1996 by U.S. Snowboarding with snowboarding progression as a top priority. This annual three-stop competition series utilizes top resorts from across the United States to host world-class snowboarding competitions which draw the best male and female riders in the world. It was the first domestic competition series to offer equal prize money to male and female competitors and is now the official qualifying series for making the U.S. Olympic Team for halfpipe.

The Series

The Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix is considered the premier snowboard competition series in the United States, providing American riders a clear path to qualifying for the Olympics and progressing the sport.

It's tops on the list for riders and attracts the best of snowboarding from all over the country. Previous overall champions include Olympic gold medalists Hannah Teter, Kelly Clark, Shaun White and Ross Powers, as well as Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler.

With a $300,000 overall purse, it is one of the largest for a snowboarding series. Halfpipe winners walk away with $14,000, runner-ups $7,000 and $3,500 to third place for both women and men. The overall winners of the tour also drive off with a brand new Chevy at the final competition of the season.

Over the span of the Grand Prix' lifetime more than $4 million has been awarded to riders.

Every series stop is broadcast on NBC and Versus, as well as WCSN.com.

Current Schedule

Dec. 14-15, 2007 - Breckenridge Resort, CO

Friday, Dec. 14 - Halfpipe qualifiers

Saturday, Dec. 15 - Halfpipe finals and the Paul Mitchell Progression Session downtown exhibition

Feb. 9-10, 2008 - Tamarack Resort, ID

Friday, Feb. 8 - Halfpipe qualifiers

Saturday, Feb. 9 - Halfpipe finals

Sunday, Feb. 10 - Snowboardcross qualifier and finals

March 15-16, 2008 - Killington Resort, VT

Saturday, March 15 - Halfpipe qualifiers and night finals with concert

Sunday, March 16 - Paul Mitchell Progression Session, a slopestyle event

Qualifying

Previously open to all riders, the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix moved to a qualification process in 2008 to accommodate the high demand for starting spots.

The most direct road to qualification is to compete on the Chevrolet Revolution Tour, the main vein for up-and-coming riders to advance to the Grand Prix. Additional national events that qualify riders for the Chevrolet U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix include the Vans Cup, US Open and USASA Open Division Nationals.

Complete qualification details along with a list of prequalified riders is available at [http://www.ussnowboarding.com/grandprix/ the Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix website] .

Past Overall Champions

External links

* [http://www.ussnowboarding.com/grandprix/ Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix] official site
* [http://www.ussnowboarding.com/ U.S. Snowboarding] official site
* [http://www.ussa.org/ U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association] official site