Jackson Hole received 18 inches of snow in the last 24 hours! New powder will blanket Un-skiable, Alta Zero and Casper Bowl, where competitors will show their stuff in the third Annual Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open.

Cloudveil’s Nick DeVore will compete along with hometown sweethearts Hannah Horigan and Crystal Wright. The comp starts today - FRIDAY - from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and will also go all day Saturday. Sunday is an optional day if weather impedes the event.

This is the fourth stop on the six stop Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series organized by Mountain Sports International and the International Freeskiiers Association. One of the most anticipated stops on the tour, registration for the Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open filled in mere hours.

Competitors from around the globe, including Canada, U.S.A., Argentina, Sweden, Japan and France will battle it out for $7,500 with the men’s and women’s overall U.S. Freeskiing Tour point leaders taking home an extra $2,500 each.

Over 70 men and 30 women are scheduled to compete, including freeskiing champions Cliff Bennett, Drew Billington, Justin Richard, Kevin O’Meara and last year’s winner Griffin Post on the men’s side. The stacked women’s field includes current tour point’s leader Hannah Whitney, as well as last year’s podium finishers Horigan and Wright.

“Following the success of the last two years, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is thrilled to see this exciting competition return to the big mountain terrain at Jackson Hole,” said Bill Lewkowitz, JHMR Sales and Special Events Director. “From the great caliber of entrants to the professional organization, it is a top event and we wish all those competing the best of luck. With over 467 inches of snow so far this winter, conditions are perfect on our mountain and we are really looking forward to watching the competition.”

Proposed competition venues include Un-skiable, Alta Zero and Casper Bowl. Casper Bowl, used in past years, is an east-north-east facing bowl filled with steep chutes, rock outcrops and snow fields. To reach Casper Bowl, skiers must hike the headwall (about 800 feet vertical) and then drop into the bowl. The venue is easily viewable from the top of Casper lift, making it an ideal spot for spectators.

MSI will broadcast same-day video webcast starting at 7 p.m. MST both Friday and Saturday on the newly redesigned and recently launched www.usfreeskiing.com, which features state-of-the-art video and photo player technology. The daily uploads of video, photos, news and results of each day’s competition action will be available after each day concludes.

Last year, Cloudveil ambassador Jess McMillan won the 2nd annual Subaru Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open. This year, McMillan is skiing in France and could not attend the hometown event.

For more information and schedule of events log onto www.usfreeskiing.com.

Lisa Watson is a Cloudveil ambassador and is communications manager for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.