The red-hot U.S. Snowboarding Team arrives in Breckenridge this weekend for the first stop of the 11th annual U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix. The 2006 team, which reaped a record seven medals at the Turin Olympics, will once again soar at the internationally ranked superpipe in Breckenridge, vying for a $300,000 purse. Gold medal Olympic pipe queen Hannah Teter is aiming for a three-peat in Breckenridge and Aspen’s Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler, above, is aiming to usurp her pal’s golden reign. Mop-headed boarding baron Shaun White is apparently skipping this year’s Grand Prix, ending his reign of golden Colorado performances. White’s absence opens the door for Danny Kass, Scotty Lago and Summit County local Steve Fisher.
Check it out — The showdown qualifiers begin Friday, with halfpipe finals Saturday afternoon. Saturday night’s quarterpipe demo in the Miner’s parking lot will serve as a qualifier for the prestigious Arctic Challenge, a one-of-a-kind weeklong competition in Oslo, Norway this winter.
