Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will host the first of two stops of the inaugural The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series, which will feature ski slopestyle and halfpipe competitions.

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series kicks off Jan. 6-9 at Northstar and wraps up Feb. 17-20 at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire.

The event will dedicate one competition day to halfpipe and two days to slopestyle. Judging will be overall impression based on creativity, degree of difficulty, combinations, variations, style and amplitude.

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The competition at Northstar is the last event that will count towards receiving an invitation to the 2011 Winter X Games, and will count on the Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) points list to qualify for the Halfpipe and Slopestyle FIS World Championships in February.

The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series will work in conjunction with the AFP on competition judging, with AFP General Manager and X Games competitor Steele Spence serving as head judge for the series. Other judges include Evan Raps, Omar Otte, Skogen Sprang and Mike Laroche.

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and#8220;The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series is a great opportunity for amateur and pro riders alike,and#8221; Spence said. and#8220;This is a gateway for amateurs to flow to pro level, and a platform for pros to continue to progress the sport in a fluid, lucrative environment.and#8221;

Athlete registration for this first stop is nearly full and includes The North Face athletes Nick Martini and Jess Warll, as well as other renowned pre-qualified skiers. Visit http://www.thenorthfaceppos.com for more information and registration.