Temperature's topped out at a balmy 13 degrees here at Copper Mountain's Superpipe today for day one of the first stop of the U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix series.

The glacial temps haven't stopped the world's halfpipe die-hards from showing up for training every morning at 8 a.m. for the past couple weeks, where team U.S.A. has had private access to the pipe until 10:30 in the morning. In fact, the bluebird skies and high of 13 degrees was welcomed with open arms by the riders after multiple training days of blowing ice, stormy weather and sub-zero temps.

Much of the hype around this first major contest of the winter lies within the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Olympic seasons are milestone's every four years for the U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix series, as the five stop tour is the major deciding factor for the United States Olympic Halfpipe team.

That being said, all eyes are on Copper to see who has actually shown up for the first Olympic Selection competition.

The two most notable names not on the starting list as of today are former Olympians Danny Kass (Silver, Salt Lake City 2002, Torino 2006) and Hannah Teter (Gold, Torino 2006). Both are out due to minor injuries.

Danny and Hannah's absence from the first stop of the Grand Prix doesn't eliminate them from their chances for going to Vancouver in February. There are still four more stops and ample room for growth (and mistakes) in these U.S. Halfpipe proving grounds. In fact, Danny domineered both the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Grand Prix series after "leisurely" starts to each of them.

On the other end of that spectrum, of course, is Shaun Roger White. When Shaun took home the Olympic Gold in 2006 he had "The Perfect Year". He literally won every single professional competition including all of the Grand Prix's and both the slopestyle and pipe comp's at both the X Games and the Burton U.S. Open, an impossible feat.

And, judging by the way Shaun's been riding here in Copper during training, he could very well be on his way to his second perfect season. It's no secret after his showing at this summer's New Zealand Burton Open that Shaun has set the bar when it comes to halfpipe riding. Any competitor will tell you that he's had a one-up with closed night-time resort access and secret backcountry halfpipe sessions, but that doesn't change the fact that Shaun's riding abilities are noticeably pushing the progression of the sport daily.

Bottom line, the man to beat this weekend is Shaun.

And of course the trick the do that is everyone's favorite new variety of trick, the double-cork. Shaun's got them (back to back), Louie Vito has them, Luke Mitrani, Danny Davis, Kevin Pearce, Greg Bretz, Matt Ladley, the list grows longer every day.

Friday morning will be the first chance for the boys to throw down, and it will be our first chance to see who really has what it takes to win with the pressure of an Olympic year bearing down on them. Stay tuned...