Aspen Grand Prix: Olympic Dreams Take Flight

The 2026 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, a vital World Cup event serving as an Olympic qualifier for the Milano Cortina Winter Games, has commenced in Aspen, Colorado. This competition marks the official start of the slopestyle season for Team USA, with athletes vying for a chance to compete in Italy. The event features both slopestyle and halfpipe disciplines for men and women, though Big Air is not included.

Despite a challenging start to the season with minimal snowfall across the American west, event organizers successfully prepared the competition courses. The slopestyle course was relocated to Snowmass and became operational for practice on January 4, with organizers reporting fresh snowfall on January 6. The 22-foot halfpipe at Buttermilk is also in excellent condition, meeting Olympic qualifying standards.

Several top athletes are participating, including Jamie Anderson, who aims for a return to Olympic snowboarding at age 35 after having children. Already qualified stars like Red Gerard and Chloe Kim are also notable mentions, though they are not on the initial entry lists for this specific qualifier. The U.S. Olympic ski and snowboard team selection process continues after this event, with a formal announcement scheduled for January 10.