The second stop of The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series (PPOS) continues its competition season with slopestyle and halfpipe events at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada on January 14-17, 2013. The event is the last opportunity for riders to earn an invite to Winter X Games 2013 for slopestyle and halfpipe featuring top professional and amateur athletes from around the world.

"The pipe has been cut and the slope course is starting to flow as the team in Whistler anticipates the arrival of the best in the sport," said Head Event Judge Mike Atkinson."All the elements are stacking up in producing a world class event with a extremely highly ranked start list."




Gus Kenworthy, winner of last year's Whistler stop of The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series. Photo by Brian Finestone.

In its third season, The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series is designed and scheduled to allow freeskiing athletes to advance their competition careers and achievements. The event will be taking place within the Nintendo Terrain Park on Blackcomb Mountain. To access the Nintendo Terrain Park guests can upload via the Blackcomb Gondola located in the main village at the base of Whistler Mountain or the Wizard Express located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in the upper village. Free parking is available for guests in lots 4,5,6,7 and 8.

"We are extremely excited to showcase our Nintendo Terrain Parks and to host such an elite event," says Peter Young, Events Manager at Whistler Blackcomb. "The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series brings together some of the best park riders in the world and we can't wait for the competition to begin."

Mike Riddle at last year's Whistler stop of The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series. Photo by Brian Finestone.

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series at Whistler Blackcomb begins on Monday, January 14th with athlete registration. The park competition kicks off on Tuesday, January 15th with practice and qualifiers in the slopestyle course, and continues onto Wednesday, January 16th with park semi-finals and finals. The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series at Whistler Blackcomb concludes on Thursday, January 17th with the halfpipe semi-finals and finals in the Blackcomb superpipe. A schedule is available at thenorthfaceppos.com/whistlerblackcomb.


All four PPOS stops are Silver Level events on the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) competition schedule. The Copper Mountain and Northstar California Resort events are International Ski Federation (FIS) sanctioned NORAM CUP events with athletes earning FIS points as well.

Men's and Women's podiums at the first stop of the 2012/2013 The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series 2013 Schedule

Copper Mountain, Colorado (FIS Event)

December 8-9, 2012

Event: Halfpipe

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

January 14-17, 2013

Events: Halfpipe and Slopestyle

Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

February 23, 2013

Events: Rail Jam and Big Air

Northstar California Resort, CA (FIS Event)

March 8-10, 2013

Event: Slopestyle

http://www.newschoolers.com/membervideo/590063.0/The-North-Face-Park-and-Pipe-Open-Highlights?s=159916&t=2&o=8

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series at Copper Mountain Highlights

For more information on The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series, visit www.thenorthfaceppos.com, www.facebook.com/thenorthfaceppos and twitter.com/TNFParkandPipe (#PPOS), and for athlete information, contact Julia Jimmerson, MSI athlete relations manager, at jjimmerson@mtsports.com

& (801) 349-4616.