The women's qualifier went off on Thursday.

The first stop of the Olympic qualifying US Snowboarding Grand Prix kicked off at Copper Mountain in Colorado today. Here is the quick and dirty punch list from today's event.

US Snowboarding Grand Prix - Day 1 Notables

• Riders make the Olympic team by combining their top two finishes from the five qualifying events.
• Judging is based on overall impression by a panel of five.
• Each rider takes two runs, only the best score counts.
• Women's qualifiers started today (with the top 8 making Saturday's finals), Men qualify on Friday (Top 16)
• Gretchen Bleiler topped the women's field with her trademark crippler - seven - seven run with remarkable amplitude.
• Kelly Clark made a strong showing with her trademark big airs and powerful, slow rotating sevens.
• Compact Spanish rider Quera Castellet surprised many with her powerful qualifying runs - look for her to be a factor in the finals.
• Surprisingly, one of the favorites, Torah Bright failed to make it through to the finals due to small mistakes at the end of each of her qualifying runs.
• Up and coming riders, coached by 2006 Olympic team coach, Bud Keene showed some of the future talent that will be making its way into the finals. Steamboat's Maddy Schaffrick qualified into the top 8.
• Women are divided into two categories - the ones who are going with the traditional runs with back to back spins and those led by Torah Bright who are mixing in switch backside spins and other technical tricks.
• Men's practice started afters Women's Qualifiers and it KICKED ASS!
• This event represents the pinnacle of halfpipe progression and all of the players were on hand.
• The double cork will be a dividing line in the field and few riders have it.
• Shaun White's new run is AMAZING. Back to back double cork 10s.
• Louie Vito also looking very strong - double cork on lock, just not back to back like Shaun's.
• Field is deep in international talent.

Compiled by Mark Sullivan/MediaKneival.com

CLICK FOR THE FULL DAY 1 US SNOWBOARDING GRAND PRIX GALLERY