VERNON, New Jersey ??” Mountain Creek resort is kicking snowmaking into high gear in preparation for opening day next Saturday, December 10th at the South Base. The resort has also announced a jam-packed schedule of exciting events for the upcoming winter season, including the much-anticipated US Olympic Snowboard Team final qualifier and announcement on January 21, 2006.

The annual cornerstone of the Mountain Creek event season, the Chevrolet US Snowboard Grand Prix returns January 20-21, 2006 for the third consecutive year, but this time the excitement is even greater. The 2006 Grand Prix is expected to draw record spectators for the exciting two-day event, which will include a fun-filled sponsor village, Slednecks Snowmobile demo sponsored by Red Bull, and live music (band to be announced). The crowd will be treated to a rare opportunity to cheer on of the nation’s 30 top-ranked riders, as they compete in the final qualifier for a spot on the US Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe Team. A true Olympic preview right here in New Jersey.

Athletes expected to compete at Mountain Creek include 2002 Olympic medalists: local Danny Kass (silver-Vernon, NJ), Ross Powers (gold-South Londonderry, VT), Kelly Clark (gold-Mount Snow, VT), plus Tommy Czeschin (Mammoth Lakes, CA),Keir Dillon (Carlsbad, PA), Shaun White (Carlsbad, CA), Hannah and Abe Teter (Belmont, VT), Tricia Byrnes (Stratton, VT), Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT), Steve Fisher (Breckenridge, CO), Elena Hight (Zephyr Cove, NV),Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO), and Luke Mitrani (Stratton, VT) among others.

NBC will air a one-hour special of the Mountain Creek Grand Prix and Olympic announcement the following day, on Sunday, January 22, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. ET. OLN will broadcast more Mountain Creek during it’s ‘Ten Weeks to Torino’ programming, Sunday, Jan. 22, at 5 p.m. ET.

But that’s not all, there is always something going on at Mountain Creek. Opening day is scheduled for Saturday, December 10th at South, and the fun will last all season long. Here’s a look at the current event calendar, but be sure to visit mountaincreek.com for all the up-to-the-minute event information.