CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Copper, Colorado is the home of the 2009 United States of America Snowboard Association Championships where close to 1,600 snowboarding competitors from all over the country can expect to see the most elite group of riders in the United States face off for National Title honors.

The USASA National Championships has been called the World's Largest Snowboard Competition. Snowboarders compete in regional series across the country in Snowboardcross, Halfpipe, Slopestyle and alpine events to qualify for Nationals.

Maine snowboarders compete in Maine Mountain Series events at mountains in the state accumulating points towards Maine Mountain Series and National rankings. Maine riders qualify for Nationals by winning the Maine Mountain Series Regional Series Title in their age/gender group or by earning an invitation through the National Ranking system.

Riders representing the greater Carrabassett Valley area include Carrabassett Valley Academy riders Alex Tuttle, Dylan Darienzzo, Juliette and Benjamin Bisson, Brianna and Ian Daly, Molly Wasik, Nicole Colarusso, Jasper Tripp, Alex Rodway, Hank Poulin, Ben and Emily Eames, Beau Shanahan, Hillary Thompson, Jack Dawe and Tristan Jennings.

Sugarloaf/Carrabassett Valley Academy weekend development program riders qualifying for Nationals include Libby Shanahan, Kate Burgess, Morgan Rodway and Colby Allred. Local riders Timmy Bergeron, Andrew Carleton and Chris Daly also earned coveted spots to compete against the top competitors in the United States.

The USASA is a grassroots snowboard organization with over 5000 members who compete in more than 500 events in 36 regional series across the US. Competitors range in age from 7 to 70 and represent a group of riders passionate about the sport of snowboarding. For the past 20 years USASA National Championships has been the final event of the season for these riders.