What You Need to Know About the US Open

The US Open Finals get underway this weekend at Stratton Mountain in Vermont. It's the last big event of the season and will decide the Men's Ticket to Ride Champion. So here's what you need to know whether you're attending in person or just watching the live webcasts. The US Open is more than just a competition. There's a sponsors' village where you can pick up swag, board demos, riding, parties, and free concerts by Santigold and R2D2.

The US Open is a free event and it takes place on Sun Bowl. If you just want to watch you can hike up the pipe or sit at the base (there's a beer garden!) and watch on the big screen. Or you can buy a lift ticket (at Sun Bowl) and ride a bit. Burton has a demo tent where you can try out their 2010 boards so it might be worth it.

To get to Sun Bowl you need to drive past the main lodge and follow the signs. You'll want to get there early to park as it fills up quickly and then you'll have to park in another lot and take a shuttle bus. If you know your way around there is a back way to Sunbowl that lets you avoid going through the main area. Remember no speeding! The cops around Stratton are notorious for handing out lots of tickets during the Open.

If you can't make it to the Open in person, then you can watch the live webcasts by Go211.com. The full US Open Webcast schedule is below.

The Competition

 Kelly Clark has been dominating the women's halfpipe in this pre-Olympic year. She just came off a sweeping the Grand Prix with a win at Killington last weekend. Hannah Teter pulled out of the Killington Grand Prix when she dislocated her shoulder in practice. Teter is expected to compete at the Open.  Other big name riders like Gretchen Bleiler and Torah Bright will likely be in the hunt as well.

Jamie Anderson could wrap up back-to-back Women's Ticket To Ride Titles in the US Open Slopestyle. She has a 200+ point lead on first place. Of course there are plenty of other women in the competition looking to bump her off and make a run for the title at the Roxy Chicken Jam at the end of the month.

The Schedule

Friday, March 20th
• Men’s and Women’s Quarterpipe Semi Finals: 5:15pm-6pm
• Men’s and Women’s Quarterpipe Finals: 6:15pm-7:45pm
• Quarterpipe Awards: 7:50pm
• R2D2 Concert in the Sun Bowl: 8:00pm

Saturday, March 21th
• Men’s and Women’s Halfpipe Semi Finals: 8:30am-1:15pm
• Men’s and Women’s Halfpipe Finals: 2pm-3:45pm
• Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle practice: 9am-1pm
• Halfpipe Awards and Autograph Signing (in Sponsor Village): 4pm
• Santigold Concert in the Sun Bowl 4:30pm

Sunday, March 22nd
• Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle Semi Finals: 8:30am-1:15pm
• Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle Finals: 2pm-4pm
• Slopestyle Awards, Volvo Most Valuable Rider Awards, BGOS Champions Awards, and Men’s TTR World Champion Award: 4:15pm-4:45pm

Go211.com Webcast Schedule

FRIDAY, MARCH 20
Quarterpipe Finals
6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. (ET)
3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (PT)

SATURDAY, MARCH 21
Morning Show
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (ET)
6:00 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. (PT)

Womens Halfpipe Semi-finals
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (ET)
6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. (PT)

Mens Halfpipe Semi-finals
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. (ET)
8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (PT)

Halfpipe Finals
2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. (ET)
11:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. (PT)

End Show
3:45 p.m. (ET)/ 12:45 p.m. (PT)

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

Morning Show
9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (ET)
6:45 a.m. - 7:15 a.m. (PT)

Slopestyle Semi-Finals
10:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. (ET)
7:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. (PT)

Slopestyle Finals
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ET)
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (PT)

End Show
4:00 p.m. (ET)/ 1:00 p.m. (PT)

MISS THE LIVE WEBCAST?

For anyone who misses the live webcasts or the daily replays, both highlights of the winning runs and the full webcasts will be available for on-demand viewing after the event is over on GO211.com.

REPLAYS OF ENTIRE WEBCASTS START
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
3:30 p.m. ET
12:30 p.m. PT