2009 US FREESKIING OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS, PRESENTED BY WOODWARD AT COPPER, RETURNS TO COPPER MOUNTAIN, FEBRUARY 26 - 28, WITH A JUNIOR HALFPIPE JAM MARCH 1

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-designed website http://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 http://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! – http://www.usfreeskiingopen.com for more details

+ $20,000.00 in prize money

+ New website – http://www.usfreeskiingopen.com

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

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 http://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.http://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 http://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.”

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

CLICK HERE FOR ATHLETE AND MEDIA REGISTRATION

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