COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — January 7, 2013 — 2013 Sprint U.S. Grand Prix makes its debut stop at Copper Mountain this week welcoming both halfpipe and slopestyle athletes in the recently-elevated FIS World Cup competition. Points earned at the World Cup determine eligibility to compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Sprint U.S. Grand Prix is a 5 Star World Snowboard Tour and the Visa U.S. Grand Prix is an Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Platinum level event.

The competition action kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. with freeski halfpipe and snowboard slopestyle qualifiers and continues through the weekend with finals on Friday and Saturday, Jan 11 – 12. Come be a part of the action with foot spectator access to the Main Vein Superpipe from Center Village or skiing access via Main Vein trail. Get up close and personal in the new Central Park Lounge spectator viewing area located on the World Cup Slopestyle course in the Woodward Central terrain park complete with beverage service. Slopestyle course viewing is only accessible for skiing guests via Loverly trail off of the Union Peak Quad chairlift. The competition schedule is subject to change, the full event schedule is available here.

On Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Taylor Guitars holds a free Jam Session in the Lower Lobby Area of the Copper Conference Center. In addition meet Rosalind Groenewoud, 2012 X-Games Gold Medalist and AFP Halfpipe Champion, on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the Spyder Concept store located in Center Village.

Burning Stones Plaza in Center Village transforms into Grand Prix Vendor Village on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sprint, Chipotle, Nature Valley, Paul Mitchell and a wide variety of other sponsors will be handing out swag and hosting giveaways.

The party continues into the night and throughout the weekend when Copper Mountain’s Center Village comes to life. Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Copper Mountain Conference Center, Taylor Guitars presents a free screening of Waiting for Lightning, a film that documents the life of the iconic skateboarder and visionary, Danny Way. Stick around after finals on Saturday as the Chicago-based duo Wild Belle takes the stage for a free concert in Jack’s Slopeside Grill at 6:30 p.m. for the U.S. Grand Prix closing concert. An up-and-coming rock/folk musical duo, Wild Belle was recently featured on Late Night with Conan O’Brien making their television debut.

Don’t want to miss any of the action? Last Chance Lodging is still available; book you nights and save up to 33%.