The annual Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival kicked things off this weekend with their big air contest. This is always a spectator friendly event, with top skiers and snowboarders throwing down right in the village. The jump was especially big this year and had a steep takeoff to match the landing. There were clear skies and soft/slushy snow covering the course - the ideal conditions for a big air showdown. Add some live music, knowledgeable MCs, and a stoked crowd of over 10,000, and we had a pretty good show at the base of Blackcomb on a Saturday night.

One notable skier was Austin Ross, who grew up in Pemberton and took on the roll of hometown hero as the only real Whistlerite in the finals. Ross' stomped double cork 9 on his second-to-last hit drew by far the loudest cheer of the night. Unfortunately that double was the only trick he had working, and the local boy went home in third.

Men’s winner JF Houle skied like a guy who is use to owning big money comps like this one, which shouldn't have been a surprise considering he bagged a win at the US Open slopestyle only a few months ago. Houle set his spins perfectly, held his mute grabs for as long as possible, and seemed completely comfortable with the fact that he was going bigger than anyone else on almost every hit. He threw 5s, 9s, 10s, and cab 7s - all bio, all grabbed, all stomped low on the landing. Simply put, the man was the clear winner and earned his ten grand on Saturday night.

There was a woman’s field for the first time in the contest’s seven year history. Ashley Battersby helped prove its legitimacy by manning up and hitting the jump switch. She took her sw spins to 7, and ended up winning out over Sarah Burke. Meg Whiteside won for the snowboarders.

Speaking of the riders, their men’s final saw a battle between Seb Toutant and Norwegian Kim Andre Eliassen. It was basically a dead heat after the dudes did their best 5s, 7s, and 9s on the first three hits. That left an "anything goes" final jump to decide it. Eliassen was up first, and spoiled what was an injury-free contest by over rotating a massive rodeo 7 - landing hard on his side. He looked either concussed or badly winded, and was not around to receive his second place cheque about half an hour later. Toutant then just needed to land anything to claim his ten grand first prize, but stepped up and pleased the crowd with a clean double cork 10. Watch Snowboard Finals Here

For details and full results check out the official WSSF website: whistler.mtv.ca