Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort Hosts USASA Grand Canyon Series Alpine Slalom and Rail Jam Weekend

LAS VEGAS - Feb. 2, 2015 - PRLog -- Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort (LVSSR) hosts the U.S.A Snowboard and Freeski Association’s (USASA)Grand Canyon Series Alpine Giant Slalom/Slalom and Rail Jam Weekend on Feb. 6–8, 2015. This is the first time LVSSR has hosted the event that starts at noon on Friday, Feb. 6 and ends at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8.The Grand Canyon Series, which is hosted at resorts in Arizona and Nevada, is open to all USASA freeskiers and riders ages 5 and up. Competition entry is $20. To participate, competitors must purchase either a yearly USASA membership for $100, or a daily competition membership for $35. To apply for a membership, please visit www.usasa.org.

Competitors can purchase discounted daily lift tickets for $25 and may participate in training day for $10 on Friday, Feb. 6 from 1-3 p.m. They are also encouraged to register online through LVSSR’s website, www.skilasvegas.com. Onsite registration will be available noon-1 p.m. on February 6, 8-9 a.m. on February 7, and 8-9:30 a.m. on February 8.

The rail jam competition will feature skiers and snowboarders competing in a free form rail jam with several feature pads of rails. The giant slalom and slalom competitions are for snowboarders only and feature traditional timed racing events. Top finishers in each age division (see below) will be awarded prizes and qualify for the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain, Colorado March 28–April 7, 2015.

USASA Grand Canyon Series Giant Slalom/Slalom and Rail Jam Itinerary

Friday, Feb. 6 – Giant Slalom/Slalom and Rail Jam Training Day (no points awarded)

• Noon-1 p.m. – Registration at the Bighorn Grill
• 1-3 p.m. – Training

Saturday, Feb. 7 – Giant Slalom/Slalom Competition Day (snowboard and adaptive)

• 8-9 a.m. – Registration at the Bristlecone Bar
• 8:45-9:30 a.m. – Giant Slalom course inspection (must have bib to get early lift load on Bluebird lift)
• 9:45 a.m. – Mandatory riders meeting at the start area
• 10 a.m. – Giant Slalom race start
• 11:30 a.m.- noon – Slalom course inspection
• Noon – Slalom race start
• 2:30 p.m. – Award ceremony at the base lodge

Sunday, Feb. 8 – Rail Jam Competition Day (snowboard, adaptive and freeski)

• 8-9:30 a.m. – Registration at the Bristlecone Bar
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Practice
• 10:45 a.m. – Mandatory riders meeting at the start area
• 10 a.m. – Giant Slalom race start
• 11 a.m.– Hour-long Rail Jam competition
• 1:30 p.m. – Award ceremony at the base lodge

Age Divisions:

Giant Slalom/Slalom

• Ruggie (5-7)
• Grommet (8-9)
• Menehune (10-11)
• Breaker (12-13)
• Youth (14-15)
• Junior (16-17)
• Jams (18-22)
• Senior (23-29)
• Master (30-39)
• Legend (40-49)
• Kahuna (50-59)
• Methuselah (60 and over)
• Open Class (No age limit, Pro Class)
• Adaptive (Individuals with permanent physical disabilities)

Rail Jam

• 9 and under
• 10-13
• 14 and over
• Open Class (No age limit, Pro Class)

The Grand Canyon Series will include 20 regional events from January through March. Other events in this series will be held at three resorts: Arizona Snowbowl, Sunrise Park Resort and LVSSR. Events include slopestyle, rail jams, slalom, giant slalom, banked slalom, and boarder cross/skier cross.

“It’s an honor to host this prestigious event and to showcase the extraordinary talent in Southern Nevada as well as our region,” said Kevin Stickelman, LVSSR president and general manager. “We’re certain that spectators and competitors will be inspired by these athletes. This is a great opportunity to gather the community to celebrate and appreciate winter snow sports.”

The USASA is the largest snowboard and freeski group in the world. Over 70 percent of U.S. Olympic freeski athletes and 100 percent of U.S. Olympic snowboard athletes competed in USASA competitions.

For more information on LVSSR, please visit www.skilasvegas.com. For more information on USASA or to become a member, please visit http://www.USASA.org

About Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort (LVSSR) is located approximately one hour from downtown Las Vegas in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Established in 1963, LVSSR offers guests 195 acres of terrain, 30 trails that are accessed via three chair lifts and one tubing lift and an additional 250 acres of hike-to terrain. LVSSR averages 212 inches of snowfall per year and offers ski and snowboard coaching, a terrain park, and lodge amenities include dining, a retail shop and a host of summer activities.  For more information, please visit www.skilasvegas.com. Follow LVSSR on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.