U.S. Grand Prix Brings World-Class Freeskiers Back to Breckenridge

Featured Image: Courtesy of Breckenridge Ski Resort, McLear

After a 12-year hiatus, Colorado's Breckenridge Ski Resort announced its return as a host mountain for the 2026-27 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix tour from Dec. 10 to 13. The Breckenridge Grand Prix will kick off the U.S. portion of the FIS Freeski and Snowboarding World Cup, bringing together some of the world’s top freeski and snowboard slopestyle athletes. 

Breckenridge will host slopestyle events only, with freeski qualification rounds beginning Thursday, Dec. 10, followed by freeski finals on Saturday, Dec. 12. A finalized list of athletes hasn’t been announced yet, but the mountain may see athletes like Alex Hall, Avery Krumme, Mac Forehand and Rell Harwood competing on the new slopestyle course. 

Breckenridge is one of three Toyota U.S. Grand Prix stops in Colorado, with Copper Mountain hosting a superpipe competition the next weekend and Aspen hosting a combined slopestyle and superpipe Toyota U.S. Grand Prix event Feb. 25-28, 2027. All spectators are welcome at any Colorado Toyota Grand Prix event, and general admission is free.

“The return of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix is a proud moment for Breck,” said Jon Copeland, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Breckenridge Ski Resort, in a recent press release. “This event reflects the progressive spirit and competitive energy that has long been part of The Kingdom’s history and we’re excited to bring it to life this winter.” 

Photo: Courtesy of Breckenridge Ski Resort, Douvalakis

The Kingdom

The return of the Grand Prix comes as Breckenridge continues to celebrate its somewhat quirky history through its recently launched Kingdom of Breck campaign. The campaign draws on a story dating back more than a century ago, when an 1880 U.S. government map accidentally omitted Breckenridge entirely.

This mistake sparked a century-long tradition, or “bit,” if you will, of the town celebrating independence and “sovereignty” as the Kingdom of Breck. This history and campaign gives the resort a unique identity, one it continues to embrace as it brings high-level competition back to the mountain. 

While the resort has plenty of space, boasting 2,908 acres over five peaks, much preparation is still needed for the Grand Prix event. The resort hired Charles Beckinsale, a world-renowned park builder, to lead the slopestyle course build.

Unlike Copper Mountain, which maintains a dedicated superpipe throughout the season and hosts multiple superpipe events, as well as Aspen, which hosts both slopestyle and superpipe events each year, the slopestyle course at Breckenridge could mark the beginning of a new era for the resort. That which helps build upon its rich history, while writing new records in the books with top athletes from around the world.