CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine ??“ The future of US snowboarding will be on display at Sugarloaf this winter as the nation’s top up and coming riders gather for the fourth and final stop on the 2009 US Snowboarding Revolution Tour, March 9-11. The USSA tour will crown its overall champions for the season at Sugarloaf, and the winners will qualify for a Chevy US Snowboard Grand Prix event the following weekend.

The Sugarloaf stop will be the only east coast location for the Tour this season.

The Revolution Tour is the top junior event tour in the country, featuring competitions in halfpipe, slopestyle, and snowboardcross. The event brings together athletes from across the country to identify the top juniors. Halfpipe and slopestyle athletes 13 and older (snowboardcross 15 and older) compete together in an open-class event. The Revolution Tour is also used to qualify athletes for World Juniors, U.S. Open, U.S. World Cup, USASA Nationals and Project Gold camps.

“This is a very sought after, very fun series,” said Abbi Nyberg, US Snowboarding Program Manager. “It’s a great event for young and developing riders because it helps them build their skills and prepare themselves for the next level of competition. Sugarloaf has always been a great supporter of snowboarding events and we are looking forward to them hosting the Revolution Tour.”

Each event consists of roughly 300 athletes, the majority of whom compete in halfpipe and slopestyle. Last season over $10,000 dollars in cash and prizes were awarded throughout the tour.

Due to the high level of competition, older athletes who are regulars on the Grand Prix and World Cup circuit frequently compete in the Revolution Tour events, raising the level of competition and excitement for competitors and fans alike.

“This is a very high level event, and we’re truly excited to have it here at Sugarloaf,” said Jim McCormack, Sugarloaf’s Competition Director. “Sugarloaf has a proud heritage of hosting top level competitions, and this event is no exception. These athletes truly are the future of the sport.”

Several athletes from Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA) are expected to compete in the Tour’s Sugarloaf stop, including junior Juliette Bisson, who took first place in snowboardcross at last season’s final Revolution Tour event.

CVA, an award-winning ski and snowboard academy located at the base of Sugarloaf, is one of the nation’s top snowsports programs and has produced outstanding Olympians in snowboarding and skiing alike. The roster includes Olympic snowboardcross champion Seth Wescott, current World Cup Champion and three time Olympian Bode Miller, as well as recently retired three time Olympian Kirsten Clark, the only U.S. skier to win four consecutive U.S. downhill titles. The CVA Freestyle program was named the top program in the country last season by the USSA.

Sugarloaf has a long history of hosting world class competitions, including the US Alpine Nationals twice in the past three years, and the 2007 Champions Cross Sugarloaf Open, which featured the world’s top snowboardcross athletes.

For information on Sugarloaf and lodging packages, visit www.sugarloaf.com or call 1-800-THE-LOAF.

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