OLYMPIC HALFPIPE TEAM
TO BE DECIDED AT FINAL GRAND PRIX

Elite field, two halfpipe comps at Mountain Creek determine tickets to Torino

MOUNTAIN CREEK, N.J. (Jan. 17) – Precious U.S. Olympic Team spots are up for grabs and it all comes down to two halfpipe contests at the final Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix, Jan. 19-22 at Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, N.J. Shaun White – winner of the first three contests – and two-time winner Gretchen Bleiler have already secured their spots on the team, but an elite field of 25 men and 13 women will ride it out to see who joins them in Torino.

Halfpipe riders will be named to the U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team based on their best two results in the five Grand Prix halfpipe contests. The three-stop series, now celebrating its 10th year as the premier snowboard series in North America, began in December in Breckenridge, Colo., with two contests followed by a pivotal contest Jan. 8 in Mt. Bachelor, Ore., after which the field was cut to include those riders best qualified to make the Olympic Team.

Riders earn points based on their results, and the current standings are (including first three results – Breck-1, Breck-2, Bachelor – and points standings):

MEN

1. Shaun White: 1st, 1st, 1st; 2000 pts
2. Mason Aguirre: 18th, 2nd, 2nd; 1600
3. Danny Davis: 12th, 3rd, 3rd; 1200
4. Ross Powers: 2nd, 10th, 9th; 1090
5. Scott Lago: 3rd, N/A, 5th; 1050
6. Andy Finch: 17th, 4th, 4th; 1000
7. Danny Kass: 4th, 6th, 11th; 900
8. Steve Fisher: 8th, 11th, 6th; 720
9. JJ Thomas: 16th, 7th, 7th; 720

10. Kevin Pearce: 10th, 15th, 16th; 710

11. Tommy Czeschin: 11th, 8th, 8th; 640
12. Chad Otterstrom: 6th, 12th, N/A; 620
13. Kier Dillon: 5th, 15th, 19th; 610
14. Louie Vito: 7th, 17th, 13th; 560
15. Michael Goldschmidt: 9th, 21st, 10th; 550
16. Rob Kingwill: 14th, 19th, 22nd; 400
17. Luke Mitrani: 23rd, 9th, 22nd; 380
18. Jack Mitrani: 13th, 23rd, 14th; 380
19. Luke Wynen: 15th, 22nd, 15th; 320
20. Tyler Emond: 21st, 14th, N/A; 280
21. Abe Teter: 20th, 24th, 17th; Top 25
22. Wyatt Caldwell: 22nd, 20th, 18th; Top 25
23. Travis Rice: N/A, 18th, N/A; Top 25
24. Pat Moore; N/A, N/A, N/A; Top 25
25. Elijah Teter: N/A, N/A, N/A; Top 25

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WOMEN (top two results determine points)
1. Gretchen Bleiler: 2nd, 1st, 1st; 2000
2. Hannah Teter: 1st; 4th; 2nd; 1800
3. Elena Hight: 3rd, 2nd, 3rd; 1400
4. Tricia Byrnes: 5th, 3rd, 5th; 1050
5. Lindsey Jacobellis: 4th, N/A, 7th; 860
6. Molly Aguirre: 6th, 5th, 6th; 850
7. Kelly Clark: 10th, N/A, 4th; 760
8. Ellery Hollingsworth: N/A, 6th, 9th; 690
9. Clair Bidez: 8th, 7th, 8th; 680
10. Eliza Greene: 7th, 9th, N/A; 650
11. Sabrina St. Marie: N/A, N/A, N/A; Top 25
12. Krissy Fagan: N/A, N/A, N/A; Top 25
13. Joanie Anderson: N/A, N/A, N/A; Top 25

Halfpipe action begins Friday night at 7 p.m. with the first of two contest under the lights at Mountain Creek. Saturday’s halfpipe begins at 4:30 p.m. and will culminate with the announcement of the U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team including halfpipe, snowboardcross and parallel giant slalom riders. The final Paul Mitchell Progression Session will be a slopestyle contest with qualifiers beginning Friday morning at 9 a.m. and finals Saturday starting at 10 a.m.

Also on Saturday, Red Bull will present the SCS Slednecks Freestyle Snowmobile Demo, with some of the world’s top freestyle snowmobile riders pushing the sport to its limits. Additionally, prior to the Olympic announcement, Mountain Creek and N.J. Tourism will present a free concert by Grammy-nominated recording artists, Fountains of Wayne. Also featured throughout the event is the sponsor village with plenty of prizes and giveaways.

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday, Jan. 18
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Halfpipe training, Sayonara

Thursday, Jan. 19
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Slopestyle training, Sugar
12-4 p.m. Press Room open, Training Room
5:30-9:30 p.m. Halfpipe training, Sayonara

Friday, Jan. 20
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Press Room open, Training Room
9 a.m. Slopestyle warm-up, Sugar
10 a.m. Slopestyle qualifiers, Sugar
6:15 p.m. Halfpipe warm-up, Sayonara
7 p.m. Halfpipe finals, Sayonara
*Awards immediately following HP finals

Saturday, Jan. 21
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Press Room open, Training Room
10 a.m. Slopestyle warm-up, Sugar
11 a.m. Slopestyle finals, Sugar
3:45 p.m. Halfpipe warm-up, Sayonara
4:30 p.m. Halfpipe finals, Sayonara
*Awards immediately following HP finals
6:30 p.m. Slednecks Freestyle Snowmobile Demo; concert by Fountains of Wayne
8:15 p.m. VISA U.S. Snowboard Olympic Team announcement, athlete presentation
8:30 p.m. Press Conference with U.S. Olympic Team

Located less than 50 miles from New York City, Mountain Creek is quickly becoming a top snowboarding venue boasting a world-class superpipe and terrain parks. With the halfpipe located right in the base area, Mountain Creek is one of the most accessible venues for spectators and media alike and is expected to draw even larger crowds than last year. 2006 marks the third-consecutive year Mountain Creek has hosted the Grand Prix.

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