This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The bright night lights at Deer Valley Resort will once again beam over the next three days as the VISA Freestyle World Cup makes its annual stop in Park City on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The event will feature moguls (Thursday), aerials (Friday) and dual moguls (Saturday), as the world's top freestyle ski athletes vie for crucial points that count toward qualification for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Some of America's premier freestyle athletes competing at Deer Valley include defending World Cup champion and Olympic medalist Hannah Kearney, Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson and 2009 World Champion Patrick Deneen.
American aerialists include World Cup veteran Dylan Ferguson and Olympian Emily Cook. Kearney, who has a long string of success on the hills at Deer Valley, recently returned to competing following a training crash earlier this season.
"Deer Valley is the best venue on the World Cup circuit, and everyone always looks forward to competing there," Wilson said in a release. "It has the best crowds and the best overall feel. Deer Valley gives me a similar feeling that I had at the Winter Olympics."
While the Freestyle World Cup is the top evening ticket in Park City, the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix snowboarding and freeskiing halfpipe finals are starring at Park City Mountain Resort on the world-famous Eagle Superpipe during the afternoon on Friday and Saturday. Notable athletes included are Louie Vito, Gretchen Bleiler, Simon Dumont, Jen Hudak and Alex Schlopy.
A late add to the snowboard halfpipe competition was none other than Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, as one of the sport's biggest stars will be pursuing valuable Olympic qualifying points in the halfpipe events along with his peers.
All events at both Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort are free to the public.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Events schedule
O Freestyle International Schedule
At Deer Valley Resort
Thursday • Mogul qualifications, 3-6:15 p.m.
• Mogul finals, 7-7:40 p.m.
• Mogul superfinals, 7:40-8 p.m.
Friday • Aerial qualification, 12:30-3:45 p.m.
• Aerial semifinals, 6:45 p.m.-7:50 p.m.
• Aerial finals, 7:50 p.m.-8:10 p.m.
• Aerial superfinals, 8:10 p.m.-8:25 p.m.
Saturday • Dual moguls qualification, 2-5:15 p.m.
• Dual moguls finals, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Sprint U.S. Grand Prix Schedule
At Park City Mountain Resort
Friday • Halfpipe snowboarding finals, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday • Halfpipe freeskiing finals, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.