The Jeep King of the Mountain Series Competition has started

The Jeep King of the Mountain Series Competitionmountains of Telluride. Jacobellis has won the first
has officially opened today. Official race scheduletwo races of the season but with the dangerous
for the grand finale of the Skiing andpoints in Telluride, there's a little margin for error
Snowboarding World Professional Championshipseven for champions. On the second place is Julie
has also been announced.Pomagalski of France who has won two French
Snowboarding superstars -- the great Lindseynational championships, a world championship and
Jacobellis and skiing phenomenon Casey Puckett,nine World Cup titles throughout her skiing career.
together with Ophelie David has joined the JeepAnother notable participant is Doresia Krings of
King of the Mountain competition and will lead aAustria who is a 2006 Winter Olympian and
lineup of Olympians, World Champions and Nationaltwo-time defending World Professional Champion.
Champions to Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado toTanja Frieden of Switzerland is a
choose the winner who will covet the crown assnowboard-cross gold medalist from the 2006
World Professional Champion.Winter Olympics will also join. Marni Yamada a
A sad report has arrived from the camp of JKOMmember of the US Snowboard team is also
Series Leader Seth Wescott saying that heincluded and to round up the roster is Joanie
cannot join the Jeep King of the MountainAnderson of Soth Lake Tahoe, California who
competition due to an accident that happeneddefeated Jacobellis and won a gold medal at the
while racing in a World Cup that resulted to hisWinter X Games.
broken arm. Seth has sent out his apology to theFor the men skiing category the results are as
organizers of the Telluride competition and to thefollows:
public awaiting his participation in the said event.• Aspen Colorado's Puckett- sits on top
With Seth out of the competition, Nate Holland ofof the standings---defending World Professional
USA becomes the new series leader and putsChampion and four-time Olympian • Lars
Drew Neilson of Canada and Defending Champion,Lewen of Sweden- in second place----a US
Graham Watanabi of USA in the hunt for the title.Freeskiing Champion and two-time gold medalist
Nate Holland is a 2006 Winter Olympian andat the Winter X Games • Jake Fiala of
recent Winter X Games gold medalist and withFrisco Colorado- in third place---a Winter Olympian
Seth out of his way he will probably grab theand US National Champion • Enak
professional snow sports' most coveted honor.Gavaggio of France- winner of six World Cup
But of course since Holland is not the only champtitles, a Winter X Games gold medal and four
participating he will be competing with manyInternational Free Skiers Association World
challengers which include third-ranked Drew NeilsonChampionships • Tomas Kraus of the
of Canada, 2006 Winter Olympian with six WorldCzech Republic- earned a World Championship and
Cup titles, a Continental Cup Championship, andtwo World Cup Championships in the past two
record of gold, silver, and bronze medals from theyears.
Winter X games. Another champ competing is theResults for the women skiing competition:
defending World Professional Champion and 2006• Ophelie David of France- seven time
Winter Olympian Graham Watanabe of Park City,World Cup titlist, three-time World Champion and
Utah. An Austrian Champ Mario Fuchs, 2006French National Champion has won both events
Winter Olympian and Austrian National Championand seemed to repeat as World Professional
will also take part in the competition. There is alsoChampion • Canadian Anik Demers of
a new addition to the dizzying list of SkiingTruckee, California- came in second place-a Winter
champs and its in the person of Jason Smith fromX Games gold medalist • Magdalena
Durango, Colorado who is a World Cup Titlist andIljans of Sweden- also in second place--- a
2006 Winter Olympian.six-time World Cup titlist • Brett Buckles
For the women's snowboarding category,of Steamboat Springs, Colorado-also in second
Stratton Mountain, Vt.'s Jacobellis will have toplace-a Gravity Game gold medalist and North
avoid deep fields while skiing down the snowyAmerican Freeskiing Champion.