Local pro riders Travis Rice and Mark Carter earned first and second place respectively in the Quiksilver Natural Selection All Mountain Invitational hosted at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort this past week. The progressive event format utilized all-natural mountain features, including a rally down ***'s Ditch and a huck fest in Casper Bowl, to determine which of the 17 invited athletes would capture the coveted prize money and respect of pro and local riders alike.

The conditions could not have been better for yesterday's final event installment. Participants glided through double over-head powder conditions in Casper Bowl, launching off boulders and trees throughout the run. Weeks of powdery snowfall were complemented by a rare day of bluebird skies, making this an event as much for the athletes as for all those who made their way to Casper Bowl to watch them.

The week of competition and comradery came to a close last night at the Mangy Moose where prizes and prize money were awarded.

As we say good bye to a great week of excellent competition and celebration, we say hello to another winter storm. The sunny skies subsided last night and yet another west cost front moved in, and with it, the possibility of another two feet of snow over the next couple of days. As I'm sure the likes of Travis Rice, Mark Carter, Bryan Iguchi, and Gigi Ruf will tell you, this is the winter to make sure you get to Jackson Hole.