CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — The Main Event snowboard competition, the premier snowboard series for amateur and professional riders on the East Coast, will make a stop at Sugarloaf on Sunday, February 15. The event showcases New England’s top professional and amateur riders as they compete for cash, prizes, and a chance to win a wild card invitation to the 2009 Burton US Open.

The weekend will also feature a “Mini Main Event” for riders age 13 and under, who will compete for a chance to win an invitation to the Junior Jam at the US Open.

“This is a marquis snowboard event for east coast riders, and a great way for Sugarloaf to showcase the work we’ve put into our terrain parks,” said Jay Scambio, Terrain Park Development Manager for Boyne Eastern Resorts. “We committed a lot of resources to our terrain parks this year, and we’re excited to have a big name competition like the Main Event to show it off.”

Now in its sixth year, the Main Event is a slopestyle type competition, in which riders are judged for their style and technical ability on one jump and a choice of two different rails. Riders are allowed two runs, and count only the best one of the two.

Riders compete in male and female categories, are divided into “Heavyweight” (professional) and “Lightweight” (amateur) divisions. Heavyweights compete for cash and a shot at the US Open invite, while lightweights compete for prizes. The top male and female finishers move on to the Finals, which will be hosted at sister resort Loon Mountain, NH on Feb 28. The top overall finishers in the pro division will receive an invitation to the 2009 Burton US Open.

Rider registration will take place the morning of the event. For more information on the Main Event series, visit www.maineventseries.com.

For information on Sugarloaf and for event lodging rates, visit www.sugarloaf.com or call 1.800.THE.LOAF.