Despite bitter cold temperatures at Copper Mountain in Colorado on Saturday, the action in the superpipe at the U.S. Grand Prix was red hot with Australian Torah Bright earning top honors for the women and fellow Aussie Nathan Johnstone snatching a surprise win for the men.

The event marked the first qualifier for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, and the first 5star World Snowboard Tour event of the competitive season.

Bright's win marked a triumphant return for her, as she hasn't stood atop a pipe podium since earning gold at the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. She's been absent from the competitive scene the past two seasons, as she took time off to ride in the backcountry.

"I am so happy to have been able to put down a run and to have won. I have my Olympic qualification under way, and I'm excited to compete the rest of the season," Bright said to fans and media following the event.

On the men's side of things, Johnstone beat out the international field with his lofty airs and technical spins, marking Johnstone's first major contest win.

"It feels unreal. I didn't expect this result coming into this event--I am over the moon right now," Johnstone said about his win. "It's great to combine the two together [FIS and Tour points]. Almost every great halfpipe rider in the world was here and to compete with all the people I have looked up to for so many years is really special to me."

Notably missing from the contest was two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, who practiced in the pipe during the Grand Prix but pulled out of the event to train for slopestyle, where he is expected to compete in the upcoming X Games in Aspen, Colorado.

Click the photo above to see the full gallery from the superpipe finals at the U.S. Grand Prix in Copper, and head to Snowboarder magazine for the full recap from all the goings on.

American Maddie Bowman earned the top spot for the ladies and Canadian Mike Riddle took top honors for the men at the U.S. Grand Prix freeski superpipe finals at Copper Mountain in Colorado on Friday.

"It is an exciting time for our sport right now with the Olympics, and the competition is stiff. I am glad to be here and get this season started right," said Bowman following the event.

Riddle, the reigning AFP World Tour Champion, took to his Twitter account following his performance on Friday to congratulate his fellow skiers and said, "Stoked to take the win at the US #grandprix@CopperMtn. Congrats to @mrDavidWise@Aaron_Blunck@_MaddieBowman@rozgroenewoud and @britasig!"

Click the photo above to view the complete gallery from the U.S. Grand Prix freeski superpipe finals at Copper.

Men's Ski Halfpipe Results:
1. Mike Riddle, 91.2
2. Aaron Blunck, 87.0
3. David Wise, 83.6
4. Joffrey Pollet-Villard, 79.8
5. Thomas, Krief, 77.8
6. Alex Ferreira, 73.6
7. Simon Dumont, 70.0
8. Kevin Rolland, 68.8
9. Matt Margetts, 54.6
10. Gus Kenworthy, 35.8

Women's Ski Halfpipe Results:
1. Maddie Bowman, 84.6
2. Roz Groenewoud, 79.2
3. Brita Sigourney, 79.0
4. Virginie Faivre, 78.4
5. Megan Gunning, 75.0
6. Ayana Onozuka, 73.0
7. Annalisa Drew, 71.8
8. Marie Martinod, 64.6
9. Mirjam Jaeger, 64.2
10. Katrien Aerts, 63.4

Photos Courtesy of Sarah Brunson/U.S Freeskiing

Jamie Anderson and Chas Guldemond earned top honors at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain in Colorado on Friday. The inaugural FIS World Cup slopestyle event marked the first chance professional riders could earn Olympic qualifying points and 5star World Snowboard Tour points this competitive season.

Anderson and Guldemond stomped the highest scoring runs on the technical slopestyle amidst freezing temperatures, howling winds, and poor visibility.

This is the second slopestyle win of the season for both Anderson and Guldemond, as each took first place at the Dew Tour in Breckenridge, Colorado, last month.

"This has all been unreal. I feel so lucky. I am so grateful to be here. I have had wonderful support from the U.S. Snowboarding team, and I'm truly looking forward to the adventure of the Olympic qualifying period," Anderson told a crowd of press and fans following the event.

"My first run was for the U.S. Snowboarding team and my second run was for me. As always, I try to have a good time snowboarding no matter what. It feels so good to be on top and start the Olympic qualifying period. It's my goal to continue this success to the best of my abilities," said an emotional Guldemond to media after the contest.

Click the photo above to see all the action and check out Tom Monterosso's full recap from the event at Snowboardermag.com

FIS U.S. Grand Prix: Men's Snowboard Slopestyle
1. Chas Guldemond (USA) 92.5
2. Roope Tonteri (FIN) 80.2
3. Peetu Piiroinen (FIN) 78.2
4. Seppe Smits (BEL) 74.0
5. Billy Morgan (GBR) 72.7
6. Maxence Parrot (CAN) 72.5
7. Sven Thorgren (SWE) 72.0
8. Jordan Phillips (CAN) 68.5
9. Takahiro Ishida (JPN) 54.5
10. Gjermund Braaten (NOR) 41.5

FIS U.S. Grand Prix: Women's Snowboard Slopestyle
1. Jamie Anderson (USA) 83.0
2. Kjersti Buaas (NOR) 74.2
3. Isabel Derungs (SUI) 71.5
4. Elena Koenz (SUI) 65.2
5. Urska Pribosic (SLO) 50.2
6. Sarka Pancochova (CZE) 50.0
7. Stefi Luxton (NZL) 30.2
8. Spencer O'Brien (CAN) 23.2

Photos courtesy of Tom Monterosso/Snowboarder magazine

What happens when you invite the world's best action sports stars and top sellers from one of the nation's leading action sports retail stores, and toss them together at Keystone Resort in Colorado for a day of snowboarding and a night of partying? Complete and utter madness, or what has come to be know as the Zumiez 100K.

The event, now in its tenth year, is awarded to Zumiez employees who have sold over $100,000 worth of product in the past year and serves as the premier place to "bro-down" during the beginning of January. Cliche as this sounds, anyone who is anyone in the action sports world turns up for the legendary event, along with an eclectic group of Hollywood notables. Attendees this year included pro snowboarders Travis Rice and Danny Kass, pro skaters Eric Koston and Nyjah Huston, and movie stars Christopher McDonald from "Happy Gilmore" and Verne Troyer of "Austin Powers" fame. DeadMau5, a Grammy-winning deejay, even showed up in his signature mouse mask and played a surprise set.

Didn't make it on the list this year for the ultra-private party? No worries--we've gathered the best Instagram shots from athletes, artists, and more for this week's edition of Insta-Awesome. Click the photo above to see all the antics from the Zumiez 100K.

So-Gnar, a lifestyle snowboard company founded by professional snowboarder Pat Milbery, has made it their mission to introduce as many people as possible to snowboarding. In an effort to expose the masses to the sport, So-Gnar created a snowboard camp that tours through fifteen different resorts each winter. The snowboard camp is in its seventh year and provides participants with an encouraging environment, which is central to having fun on the slopes. The camp's third event of this season just wrapped up at Buck Hill Resort in Minnesota. More than 50 snowboarders attended, making it a sell-out, and they learned on two park set-ups with beginner- to medium-size jumps, rails, and boxes. Photographer Chris Faronea was onsite and captured all the action. Click the photo above to see what went down.