PARK CITY, Utah. (Jan. 31) - A total of 24 U.S. snowboarders have qualified to compete at the 2006 FIS Junior World Championships Feb. 3-6 in Korea.

Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski Resort in the Gangwon Province is playing host to this year's Junior Worlds. For more information on the event and venue, please visit the following link:
http://www.vivaldipark.com/fis/main.asp

Junior Worlds is the only event where riders compete against a strong international field with no competitor older than 19. Many of the Junior Worlds riders from other countries are regulars on the World Cup tour.

The 2006 roster features some familiar names returning to Junior Worlds, many of whom posted top-10 finishes at the 2005 Junior World Championships (finish noted in parenthesis): Abby Champagne (Chester, N.H.); Ellery Hollingsworth (Darien, Conn., 4th HP); Bobby Minghini (South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 6th SBX); Abe Greenspan (Glenbrook, NV, 8th SBX); Jeremy Thompson (Elka Park, N.Y.); Vic Wild (White Salmon, Wash., 10th PGS). Rounding out those with Junior Worlds experience is 2004 Junior Worlds snowboardcross champion Joanie Anderson (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.).

Riders qualified through various events, including the Chevrolet Revolution Tour. Allyson Carroll (Truckee, Calif.) has won both a Revolution superpipe and slopestyle contest, while Tim Humphreys (Basking Ridge, N.J.) has won a pair of Revolution slopestyles as well as a superpipe.

"The level of riding at the Junior Worlds just keeps elevating and the contests just keep getting better," said U.S. Snowboarding Program Manager Becky Woolley. "Competing at the Junior Worlds gives the athletes a solid idea of where the rest of the world stands and what they might be facing in the years to come."

Current Olympic Team members Kelly Clark, Michelle Gorgone, Jayson Hale, Elena Hight, Lindsey Jacobellis and Hannah Teter are all past Junior Worlds attendees, and four of the six own medals from the Junior World Championships.

The 2006 Junior Worlds team is led by coaches Mike Mallon (Stratton, VT), Jim Smith (Copper, CO), Spencer Tamblyn (Steamboat Springs, CO), Hans Berger (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Travis McLain (Aspen, CO).

2006 U.S. Snowboard Junior World Championships Team
(birth year, hometown and discipline in parenthesis)
Men
Dylan Bidez ('90, Minturn, CO, HP); Austen Butler ('88, Ketchum, ID, HP); Roger Carver ('90, Placerville, CA, SBX); Mac Cloyes ('88, Londonderry, VT, PGS); Alex Deibold ('86, Manchester Center, VT, SBX); Abe Greenspan ('87, Glenbrook, NV, SBX); Tim Humphreys ('87, Basking Ridge, NJ, HP); Matt Ladley ('91, Steamboat Springs, CO, HP); Bobby Minghini ('86, South Lake Tahoe, CA, SBX); Jarod Minghini ('88, Slatyfork, NY, SBX); Jack Mitrani ('88, Mammoth Lakes, CA, HP); Jeremy Thompson ('88, Elka Park, NY, HP); Michael Trapp ('88, Hyannis, MA, PGS); Vic Wild ('86, White Salmon, WA; PGS)

Women
Joanie Anderson ('86, South Lake Tahoe, CA, SBX); Clair Bidez ('87, Minturn, CO, HP); Allyson Carroll ('88, Truckee, CA, SBX); Callan Chythlook-Sifsoff ('89, Girdwood, AK, SBX and PGS); Abby Champagne ('86, Chester, NH, PGS); Eliza Greene ('89, Chester, VT, HP); Ellery Hollingsworth ('91, Darien, CT, HP); Jordan Karlinski ('89, Snowmass Village, CO, SBX); Alyssa Radder ('88, Fort Jones, CA, PGS); Hayley Simpson ('88, Bondville, VT, HP)

Schedule
Feb. 3 - snowboardcross
Feb. 4 - halfpipe
Feb. 5 - big air
Feb. 6 - parallel giant slalom