USASA Grand Canyon Series Kicks Off Inaugural Season at Sunrise Park Resort
Slalom, Giant Slalom and Rail Jam Events Set for January 9-11

FLAGSTAFF (January 1, 2015)? The United States of America Snowboard and FreeSki Association’s (USASA) Grand Canyon Series today announces the launch of its first three events on January 9-11, 2015 at Sunrise Park Resort in Greer, Arizona. The Grand Canyon Series is bringing access to the largest snowboard competition series in the world to Arizona and Southern Nevada.

The Series will include 20 events from January through March at locations to include Sunrise Park Resort, Ski Las Vegas and Arizona Snowbowl. Events include slopestyle, rail jams, slalom, giant slalom, banked slalom, and BoarderCross®/SkierCross.

The culmination of the Grand Canyon Series is a chance to compete at the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain, Colorado set for March 28-April 7, 2015.

The USASA is the largest snowboard and freeski group in the world. 100% of U.S. Olympic snowboard athletes and 70% of U.S. Olympic freeski athletes went through the USASA, including Sage Kotsenburg, Jamie Anderson, Kelly Clark, Maddie Bowman, David Wise, Shaun White and Louie Vito.

“USASA was the first contest series I competed in,” said Louie Vito, US Olympic Team veteran and X Games champion. “It allowed me to go to nationals and ride with the best riders my age from all over the country. Not only did that push my riding and get my snowboarding career started but I also now have a lot of friends to this day I met through USASA.”

Grand Canyon Series – Kick-Off Event Details

Eligibility: The Grand Canyon Series is open to all USASA members from ages 5 to 95. For membership information, visit www.usasa.org.

Cost: Training for the Kick-Off Event costs just $10, and the three competitions are $20 each.

Schedule: The first weekend event schedule is as follows.
• January 9, 2015: Slalom/Giant Slalom Training, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (Snowboard and adaptive only.)
• January 10, 2015: Giant Slalom and Slalom Races (Snowboard and adaptive only.)
• January 11, 2015: Rail Jam (Snowboard, adaptive and freeski).
A full season schedule is available online at www.GrandCanyonSeries.com.

Registration: Competitors are encouraged to register online in advance at www.usasa.org by clicking on “Events” and selecting the Grand Canyon Series from the drop-down menu. Onsite registration will be available beginning at Noon on January 9 and at 8:00 a.m. on January 10 and 11.

Prizes: Top finishers in each age group will be awarded medals, and additional prizes will be up for grabs for all competitors.

About the USASA
The United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association is dedicated to supporting recreational and competitive snowboarding and freesking within 31 regional series throughout the United States of America. Since 1988, the USASA has fostered the competitive spirit of snowboard athletes and developed a solid grassroots organization that allows boys and girls of all ages and abilities to participate in over 500 organized snowboard and freeski events that qualify for national and international competition. See the complete event schedule and more at www.usasa.org.

About the USASA Grand Canyon Series
The USASA Grand Canyon Series is a division of the Flagstaff Ski Club Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1968. The Grand Canyon Series is in its first season of operation and is one of 31 nationwide series sanctioned by the USASA. The Series hosts events for athletes of all ages and abilities, with competitions held primarily at Ski Las Vegas, Arizona Snowbowl and Sunrise Park Resort. The Grand Canyon Series offers fun, safe and fair events including slopestyle, rail jams, slalom, giant slalom, banked slalom, and BoarderCross®/SkierCross. Find more information at www.GrandCanyonSeries.com.