Many of the U.S. Snowboard Team’s top riders are set to compete at the 37th annual Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships February 25 - March 2 at Colorado’s Vail Mountain Resort. U.S. riders will face off against the world’s best at the longest-running snowboard event in the world with $373,000 of overall prize money on the line.
2018 Olympic halfpipe gold medalist and 2019 FIS World Champion Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.), as well as double Olympic slopestyle gold medalist Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) return to defend their U.S. Open titles. Also competing is the 2018 Olympic slopestyle gold medalist Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.), 2018 U.S. Open slopestyle bronze medalist Julia Marino (Westport, Conn.) and 2018 U.S. Open halfpipe silver medalist Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, Calif.).
“I always look forward to U.S. Open because it's a really fun atmosphere and vibe when all the riders and spectators come together,” said Marino. “Every year they put together a very creative course and I think we get to see some of the best snowboard runs from the best riders out there today.”
Olympian Jake Pates (Eagle, Colo.) also commented on the good feelings throughout the U.S. Open.
"I am super excited and looking forward to the US Open," said Pates. "It's probably one of the best events of the year. Everyone is just stoked to be hanging out and it’s just a great vibe. Can't wait!"
In addition, 2018 U.S. Open silver medalist Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) and Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii) will compete. Corning and Farrell are currently first and second respectively in the FIS World Cup slopestyle rankings.
“I am really looking forward to the U.S. Open, said Corning. “It is always a really fun contest with a good setup. I hope the rails are a little more technical than last year, but it will be a fun contest no matter what! To be invited back for a chance to podium again is wonderful, I really hope to put down a solid run. I like that the contest is here in Vail and close to home. Also, I like how you know everyone is going to put down the best runs they can.”
Other U.S slopestyle athletes competing include 2018 Olympic silver medalist Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, Alaska), Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.) as well as 17-year-old and winner of the 2016 Junior Jam Judd Henkes (La Jolla, Calif.). For the women, Hailey Langland (San Clemente, Calif.) and Ty Schnorrbusch (Monroe Township, N.J.) are also set to ride.
U.S. halfpipe athletes include Olympian Chase Josey (Hailey, Idaho), Gabe Ferguson (Bend, Ore.), Chase Blackwell (Longmont, Colo.) Ryan Wachendorfer (Edwards, Colo.), and 2018 Junior World Champion Toby Miller (Truckee, Calif.). In addition, U.S. Rookie Team athletes Jason Wolle (Winter Park, Colo.) and Jack Coyne (Edwards, Colo.) are ready to ride. For the women, Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and U.S. Rookie Team athletes, Tessa Maud (Carlsbad, Calif.) will join the defending gold and silver medalists Kim and Mastro in the halfpipe against an impressive international field.
Eight-time Burton U.S. Open champion Kelly Clark (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) will also be in attendance following her transition away from competitive snowboarding. Fans will have a chance to ride with Clark on Friday, March 1, meeting at the Burton pop-up shop in the sponsor village at 10:00 a.m.
The U.S. Open always offers up a great show with continued milestones for the sport of snowboarding. For example, you don’t need to go back too far to when Kim raised the bar with her inaugural 2016 U.S. Open win at only 15-years-old; then, she won the Open in 2017 and again in 2018 right after her gold medal run at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games where she landed back-to-back 1080s.
If that wasn’t enough to get fans excited, riders will also have a shot at the enhanced prize purse in several new categories including the men’s and women’s Toyota Rookie of the Year titles with an additional $5,000 prize each, plus flights to and accommodation at the 2020 Burton U.S. Open. With the U.S. roster including a strong contingent of young athletes, look for these riders to gun for the Rookie of the year title!
Tune in live at BurtonUSOpen.com and Red Bull TV.
HOW TO WATCH
Subject to change
All times EST
Live webcasts on BurtonUSOpen.com and Red Bull TV
SNOWBOARD
Tuesday, February 26
12:00 p.m. - Men’s and Women’s Junior Halfpipe Jam - Vail, Colo.
Wednesday, February 27
12:00 p.m. - Women’s slopestyle semi-finals - Vail, Colo.
2:30 p.m. - Men’s slopestyle semi-finals - Vail, Colo.
Thursday, February 28
12:00 p.m. - Women’s halfpipe semi-finals - Vail, Colo.
2:30 p.m. - Men’s halfpipe semi-finals - Vail, Colo.
Friday, March 1
1:00 p.m. - Women’s slopestyle finals - Vail, Colo.
4:00 p.m. - Men’s slopestyle finals - Vail, Colo.
Saturday, March 2
1:00 p.m. - Women’s halfpipe finals - Vail, Colo.
4:00 p.m. - Men’s halfpipe finals - Vail, Colo.