The United States Ski and Snowboard Association announced today that they will be adding “freeriding” to the US Revolution Snowboard Tour. Apparently, the word “freeriding” means “skiing” in the completely confused world of snow sports governing organization speak.
“After six years building the U.S. Revolution Tour as the premier mid-level snowboard contest, we recognized the opportunity to grow the series as part of our development within freeride,” said Snowboard and Freeride Director Jeremy Forster. “With the possibility of slopestyle snowboarding and halfpipe skiing being included in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, beginning to conduct these events together and share resources makes sense. . . . “The host resorts have been stoked on the direction along with positive feedback from the freeride community. Hopefully, the athletes will have fun competing together and it will be a great season for the Revolution Tour.”
Looks like skiing is going to continue riding snowboarding coat-tails for the foreseeable future. How annoying is that? There is nothing wrong with skiing. It just isn’t snowboarding and shouldn’t be snowboarding. Putting skiing and snowboarding together in one event harms the images of both sports (not that we care about skiing’s image). But the USSA will never understand that because they’re too busy saving money on their national tour.
2011 U.S. Revolution Tour Schedule Set with New Look
PARK CITY, UT (Sept. 11) – The 2011 U.S. Revolution Tour is taking on a new look this winter showcasing freeride skiing as well as snowboarding events. The 2011 season marks the U.S. Revolution Tour’s seventh year and first time including freeride.
The U.S. Revolution Tour, a qualifying event series for the U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix, is known for featuring the up-and-coming stars of snowboarding and now will also include the future standouts of freeride skiing. The long success of the Tour was started by U.S. Snowboarding with the goal of progressing athletes to Junior Worlds, U.S. Open, Grand Prix and beyond. Past Tour stand-outs include U.S. Snowboarding’s Halfpipe Pro Team Rider Kaitlyn Farrington (Sun Valley, ID) and Rookie Team rider Zack Black (Breckenridge, CO).
“It’s fun to see the up-and-coming stars of snowboarding,” said Tour Manager Nick Alexakos. “It’s kind of the ‘who’s next’ in snowboarding. It’s fun to watch and see who will step up. It will be great to add freeride to the mix.”
The 2010 summer kicked off the freeride and snowboarding pairing with U.S. Snowboarding’s Project Gold Camp including both freeride and snowboarding athletes. More notably, the 2010 Snowboarding and Freestyle Junior World Championships marked the first FIS event where both sports were showcased at the same venue with the U.S taking home an impressive 11 medals from New Zealand in August.
The 2011 Revolution Tour is picking up where summer left off with four stops all including both freeride skiing and snowboard disciplines including halfpipe, slopestyle, and cross competitions. Following the positive response from the 2010 FIS Snowboard and Freestyle Junior World Championships in New Zealand, the Revolution Tour is moving with the progression of the two sports.
“After six years building the U.S. Revolution Tour as the premier mid-level snowboard contest, we recognized the opportunity to grow the series as part of our development within freeride,” said Snowboard and Freeride Director Jeremy Forster. “With the possibility of slopestyle snowboarding and halfpipe skiing being included in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, beginning to conduct these events together and share resources makes sense.
“The host resorts have been stoked on the direction along with positive feedback from the freeride community. Hopefully, the athletes will have fun competing together and it will be a great season for the Revolution Tour.”
The U.S. Revolution Tour is set to make its 2011 debut in mid December at Copper Mountain, CO. The Tour leaves the Rockies, heading north to Mt. Hood Meadows, OR, before moving west to Boreal, CA. Riders will make their final stop at Olympic medalists Kelly Clark’s (Mt. Snow, VT) hometown, Mount Snow, VT.
“Expect to see continued progression in the sport for sure,” said Alexakos. “I’ve been involved with the Rev Tour for three years and every year I’m amazed at the level and progression of riding from winter to winter.”
For 2011 U.S. Revolution Tour event and registration information visit the USSA website or contact Tour Manager Nick Alexakos at nalexakos@ussa.org.
2011 U.S. Revolution Tour Schedule
Dec. 13-17 Copper Mountain, CO (Halfpipe, Slopestyle)
Jan. 10-14 Mt. Hood Meadows, OR (Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Cross)
Feb. 7-11 Boreal, CA (Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Cross)
Mar. 15-18 Mount Snow, VT (Halfpipe, Slopesyle)
….no doubt the US Ski Team needs to get the snowboarding right in the RevTour before they look to make more money and save their precious skiing!
Sucks but unitl the amount of dough they make on the snowboarding side increases they can’t help themselves
Amen!
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