Suzuki Presents the U.S. Freeskiing Open, at Copper Mountain Resort

Now in its eleventh year, the U.S. Freeskiing Open (USFO), presented by Suzuki, will return to Copper Mountain, Colo, Jan. 31 – Feb. 3, 2008, bringing together hundreds of the world's best new school ski athletes and thousands of eager spectators. Athletes will compete in three disciplines – superpipe, slopestyle and big air – for a combined $60,000 prize purse.

After last year's highly progressive competition, in which Jon Olsson introduced the Kangaroo Flip in the park and Peter Olenick landed a double flair in the pipe, this year’s event will surely be a highlight of the season. As always, Copper Mountain provides an ideal après and nightlife scene, with Boulder-based 3oh!3 bringing their heavy-hitting hip hop/rock sound to the Village following the Invitational Big Air event.

Maintaining the tradition of athlete involvement in the USFO, this year Copper Mountain's snowmaking and park crews will design the terrain park in conjunction with athlete input and feedback.

"It's exciting to be involved in this event and to have watched it grow so much over the years," said Jamie Pentz, group publisher of Mountain Sports Media, parent company of Skiing Magazine. "The USFO is an extraordinary opportunity in the world of new school skiing, bringing together top professionals like Simon Dumont with up and comers from across the country. Between the crowd's enthusiasm and the athletes' performance, this event is one of the highlights of winter."

Registration
The registration process has changed for the 2008 Suzuki USFO. Competition spots for the superpipe and slopestyle will be allotted via a lottery registration system, opening Nov. 15 at 5PM EST and closing Dec. 6. Participation in the lottery will cost $5 per entry and each athlete may register as many times as he/she wants. The system will randomly select athletes and successful competitors will be announced on TK. More information is available at www.usfreeskiingopen.com

About the U.S. Freeskiing Open
The U.S. Freeskiing Open is the longest running, premiere freeskiing event in North America. Eleven years ago, the inaugural USFO gathered freeskiing's biggest hopefuls for the first slopestyle skiing competition ever. The next year, a halfpipe discipline was added and scores of unknown skiers poured in to help shape the sport. The event has served as a launching pad for countless new school skiers including Tanner Hall, J.P. Auclair, T.J. Schiller, Sammy Carlson and Copper's own Nick Mercon.

The 2008 Suzuki U.S. Freeskiing Open is produced by SKIING Magazine. Associate sponsors include: Copper Mountain Resort, SkiNet.com, tktktktktktktkt

About SKIING
Designed and edited for those who live to ski, Skiing magazine serves up equal parts inspiration and information; it's the passionate, athletic skier's guidebook to the sport of skiing. Skiing readers love to challenge themselves, whether jumping out of a helicopter, climbing a peak or just going as fast as the patrol will allow. Skiing is a business of Bonnier Corporation's Mountain Sports Media and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Bonnier Corporation is a multi-media company whose enterprises include leading magazines, websites, television and radio programming, feature films, events and exhibitions.

About the Suzuki Brand
Beyond Suzuki's spirited four-door SX4 Sport, bold and functional five-door SX4 Crossover, exciting XL7 midsize SUV and rugged Grand Vitara compact SUV, the company's 2008 vehicle line includes the popular Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon, and the European-styled Reno. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki's standout virtues of toughness, leading-edge style and high-end features at very competitive prices. All 2008 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America's #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.

The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of more than 500 automotive dealerships in 49 states. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than two million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 187 countries. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com.

About Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain is just 75 miles from Denver with 2,450 acres of skiable terrain and a village that feels more like a neighborhood. Copper's guests enjoy steps away lodging, après ski entertainment, naturally divided terrain, exciting events and a welcoming, knowledgeable staff. Begin your Copper experience with the online films and photo galleries at coppercolorado.com.