Copper Mountain, CO – Copper Mountain’s 2008-09 event schedule features an array of annual favorites as well as progressive new events. It all starts off with the 4th annual Lift Off festival, Nov. 14-16, highlighted by live music, film premiers, ski and snowboard demos, après parties and more. The excitement builds throughout November and December with ski and snowboard demos, Thanksgiving celebrations, the start of the season-long Copper Series amateur competitions and Copper’s New Year’s Eve Celebration.
Returning to Copper this season is the USSA Chevy Grand Prix, Dec. 12 – 13, where top snowboarders from around the globe will compete in their quest for the title of overall winner during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour – the US Snowboarding Grand Prix and Paul Mitchell Progression Session at Copper. The event will open with the traditional men’s and women’s half pipe competition and will include an exciting nighttime exhibition event – the Paul Mitchell Progression Session.
This year will mark the 21st consecutive year Copper has hosted the Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games, March 29-30. In addition, for the 2nd year in a row, Copper will host the USASA Nationals, where the top regional finishers are invited to compete against some of the best male and female athletes from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom in their quest to become National Champions.
Wrapping up the season is Copper’s celebrated Sunsation, the end-of-season blowout bash with free live music, unique entertainment, barbeques, beer gardens and more. Past headliners include Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rusted Root, Matisyahu and many more.
The following is Copper’s winter 08-09 Events line-up:*
Opening Day, November 14
Copper Opens for the 2008-09 skiing and riding season.
Lift Off, November 14 – 16
Lift Off, the 4th annual opening weekend festival, kicks off the season with the free Lift Off Movie Tour Pub Crawl on Friday night with raffles, après parties and drink specials at each location. Guests don’t want to miss musical acts Boombox and Brother Ali at the Lift Off concert on Saturday; doors open at 8 p.m., tickets are $12. All weekend guests who ride the Lift Off chair on the American Eagle lift will have a chance to win great prizes like lift tickets, season passes, gear and more.
USSA Race to the Cup GS – NORAM, November 18-19
Top junior riders from around North America compete head to head with Olympians and National Teams in Alpine Snowboard Races. $3,000 in prize money is up for grabs. More information and registration available at: www.copperseries.com
7th annual Leftover Yam & Jive Turkey Rail Jam, November 28
Happy Thanksjibbing – the first rail jam of the winter… compete for a chance to win great prizes! Registration will be available online for free at www.coppercolorado.com
Gobbler Chase Snowshoe Race, November 29
Grab your snowshoes and walk, trot or run to Copper’s 5th annual Gobbler Chase – to benefit Advocates for Victims of Assault! Register online at www.villageatcopper.com
En Fuego – Tree Lighting with Skydiving Santa, November 29
Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend Copper Style when Copper heats up at night with En Fuego from 6:00-8:00 p.m. See Santa and his elves Skydive into the village to light the Copper holiday tree. Enjoy activities including a torchlight parade, street entertainers, bonfires, fire performers and the finale of a brilliant fireworks display.
USSA Chevy Grand Prix, December 12 – 13
Watch Copper pros Clair and Dylan Bidez and other top snowboarders from around the globe compete in their quest for the title of overall winner during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour – the US Snowboarding Grand Prix and Paul Mitchell Progression Session at Copper Mountain. For more information, visit www.ussnowboarding.com/grandprix
High Alpine Holidays, December 13 – 24
Celebrate the magic and joy of the season at Copper! Take your picture with Santa and his reindeer or make some turns with him on the mountain. Whether you’re ultra-prepared or a procrastinator you can start or finish your holiday shopping in the many Village at Copper shops.
Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade & En Fuego, December 24
A long-standing holiday tradition at Copper. A spectacular torchlight parade will weave its way down the mountain as The Village at Copper sparkles with holiday cheer. En Fuego activities will also take place throughout the evening and will include a fireworks display.
New Year’s Eve, December 31
Adrenaline pumping entertainment, all your friends, a little fresh snow and a fireworks finale equals a New Year’s Eve Celebration not to be forgotten. The party spirit is alive! Join Copper for a New Year’s Disco evening.
Burton Super Demo, January 2 – 4
Burton Snowboards is bringing the largest consumer demo in the snowboard world to Copper Mountain. This weekend will include free demos of Burton boards, boots and bindings along with the chance to check out new products and interactive experiences from the Super Demo Tour Partners: Volvo, Paul Mitchell, Anon optics and R.E.D. Everything is free, so come up to Copper and check it out.
USSA Revolution Tour, January 14 – 17
The US Snowboarding Revolution Tour is a competition that brings together athletes from across the region to identify the top juniors in that area. Superpipe and slopestyle athletes 13-and-older (Snowboard cross 15-and-older) compete together in an open-class style event. USSA regional membership is required to compete and a FIS license or FIS provisional license is also required for Snowboard cross events. For more details visit www.copperseries.com
En Fuego Valentine’s Day – Hearts on Fire, February 14
Copper heats up at night with En Fuego from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy activities including a torchlight parade, street entertainers, bonfires, fire performers and the finale of a brilliant fireworks display. Bring your sweetie and make it a night to remember at Copper’s En Fuego!
En Fuego Mardi Gras – Fat Saturday, February 21
Copper heats up at night with En Fuego from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy activities including a torchlight parade, street entertainers, bonfires, fire performers, and the finale of a brilliant fireworks display. Copper will be celebrating Fat Saturday and En Fuego will be turned up-side-down as we party like they do down in the Big Easy.
O’ Fuego & St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – March 14
Enjoy authentic Irish fair, music, spirits and plenty of green beer. A street party not to be missed! Shakedown Street headlined the 2008 Copper St. Pat’s Day celebration – look for more great music in 2009. Cap off the night with the latest in En Fuego entertainment including a torchlight parade down the mountain and a brilliant fireworks display.
U.S. Freeskiing Open – February 27 – March 1
The 2009 US Freeskiing Open Championships at Copper is freeskiing’s most prestigious event. Going into its 12th year, the Open Championships is the longest-running competition of its kind. Every year, the US Freeskiing Open Championships finds the newest talent in freeskiing and this year promises to be no different. See athletes from around the world, including Copper pros Jess Cumming and Taylor Seaton, compete in three different disciplines: Slopestyle, Superpipe and Big Air. Year after year the Open proves itself to be the showcase for freeskiing’s top stars and up-and-comers alike.
Colorado Special Olympics Winter Games, March 29 – 30
The Special Olympics Winter Games mark the culmination of the winter sports season for the 550 athletes who annually participate in Alpine Skiing, Cross Country skiing, Figure Skating, Snowshoeing and Snowboarding. This season marks the 21st consecutive year Copper Mountain will host the event. Copper is proud to be the official winter training site for all Colorado-based winter Special Olympics athletes, as well as the official host for the Winter Games through 2010.
USASA Nationals, April 3 – April 11
Copper has been named the host venue for the largest snowboarding and free ski event on earth – the 2009 USASA Nationals. Each year, the top regional finishers are invited to attend the USASA National Championships to compete against some of the best male and female athletes from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom in their quest to become National Champions.
Easter Sunday – Colorado’s Largest Easter Egg Hunt, April 12
50,000 Easter Eggs will fill the Village and Mountain this Easter Sunday at Copper Mountain. There will an all-ages hunt on the mountain and two kids-hunts in the Village at Copper. Plus there will be special “Copper Eggs” in each of the hunts that can be redeemed for great prizes!
Sunsation, April 11 – 12 & 18 – 19
Deep snow, bright sun and free live music! Copper will be sizzling when Sunsation, the original end-of-season party, returns for its ninth year! Come enjoy bright spring sunshine, loads of snow and free live music from some amazing national acts. Past Sunsation performances include Michael Franti & Spearhead, Galactic, Keller Williams, De La Soul, John Popper Project, North Mississippi Allstars and many more.
Closing Day, April 19
ONGOING EVENTS*
En Fuego – Nov. 29, Dec. 13, 20, 24, Jan. 10, 17, Feb. 14, 21, March 14, 21 & April 4
It’s not time for bed yet – Copper PM heats up the night with En Fuego in the Village at Copper from 6 – 8 p.m. for a free street party the whole family will enjoy. Copper is literally on fire with En Fuego, regularly featuring bonfires scattered throughout the village to keep children’s hands toasty warm, the Ski & Ride School torchlight parade where hundreds of instructors ski down the mountain in a snake-like figure, fire jugglers that dazzle and the grand finale – a brilliant fireworks display. From time to time, En Fuego will feature specialty entertainment including a big air show with the Copper Mountain Freeride Team, professional ice sculptors, graffiti artists and meet-and-greets with huskies from a dog sledding team. En Fuego happens in the middle of it all… just a few steps from the Village shops.
Copper Series – Dec. 21, Jan. 10-11, 23-25, 30-Feb. 1, 7-8, 21-22, March 1 & 8
The USASA Copper Mountain Series, the largest and longest running amateur snowboard series in North America, celebrates 22 years of amateur competition, with slalom, giant slalom, slopestyle, halfpipe and boardercross. Copper Series events take place throughout the season, online registration and details at www.copperseries.com
Copper Mountain Business League – Thursdays, January 8 – March 19
Copper Mountain’s Business League is the longest-running league in Summit County. Teams of businesses, friends and co-workers come out every Thursday to compete against one another. Open to all ages of racers, the Business League provides weekly races against some of the best racers in the county. Complete with weekly after parties, this fun, competitive league allows for every racer to get out on the snow. Each party includes a video from the day’s race and great giveaways.
*This event calendar is subject to change and weather dependent
For more information about everything going on at Copper, please visit www.coppercolorado.com
QUÈ TREURE D'AQUEST ARTICLE:
- In addition, for the 2nd year in a row, Copper will host the USASA Nationals, where the top regional finishers are invited to compete against some of the best male and female athletes from around the country in slopestyle, superpipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom in their quest to become National Champions.
- Watch Copper pros Clair and Dylan Bidez and other top snowboarders from around the globe compete in their quest for the title of overall winner during the kickoff to America’s largest competitive snowboarding tour –.
- The excitement builds throughout November and December with ski and snowboard demos, Thanksgiving celebrations, the start of the season-long Copper Series amateur competitions and Copper's New Year's Eve Celebration.
