LUDLOW, Vermont ??” On Jan. 7, Okemo Mountain Resort will host the 2006 Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Snow Search Eastern Super Qualifier. Open to skiers and snowboarders, 9 to 13, this competition looks to discover the best kids on snow and the next top athletes in skiing and snowboarding. In addition to being judged on ability and style in Superpipe, Slopestyle and on the NASTAR race course, kids will be judged on attitude and sportsmanship.

Two athletes from the field of competitors at Okemo’s Super Qualifier will receive an invitation to compete in the “All-Stars” event at Keystone, Colo., Jan. 27 and 28, to be broadcast by NBC Sports at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11. In Keystone, members of the 2004 and 2005 Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Snow teams and the top two competitors from each of the five 2006 Super Qualifiers will compete in four events: Big Mountain Race, Superpipe, Slopestyle (terrain park jumps and rails) and Big Air Jump, a night time event with a torchlight parade, fireworks and laser show.

Four young athletes competing in Okemo’s Super Qualifier will go on to represent Okemo at the 2006 Next Snow Search Finals at Killington, March 3-5. In this three-day event, participants will compete in: Moguls, Carving, Slopestyle, Superpipe, Big Mountain Race, Big Air Jump and Dual Race.

Okemo’s Next Snow Eastern Super Qualifier is open to all skiing and snowboarding boys and girls, age 9 to 13. Registration is scheduled from 8 to 9:30 a.m., in the main base lodge mezzanine, on Jan. 7. The entry fee is $25 and a lift ticket is required. The judging will start at 10:30 a.m.

For more information about this event, call Matt Lillard at 802-228-1796 or visit www.nextsnow.com. For information about Okemo, call 1-800-78-OKEMO (786-5366) or visit www.okemo.com.