LUDLOW, Vermont — Kids between the ages of 9 and 13 from all over the East flocked to Okemo Mountain Resort on Saturday, January 6, to take part in the Sports Illustrated for Kids’ Next Snow Search Qualifier. Morning showers let up just in time for the event and the competition went off without a hitch.

Skiers and snowboarders were judged in two events. The Slopestyle run, which included a 20-foot kicker at the top of the slope and multiple rails and jumps, allowed the children to show off their aerial and jibbing skills. The other event was a Nastar slalom in which the children raced against the clock.

When all was said and done, skier Steven Larick, 13, of Landenberg, Pa., came away with the best overall score. He finished second in both the Slopestyle (3.1 out of 5) and the Nastar (17.79 seconds) events to give him the victory. Larick will represent Okemo at the Next Snow Finals at Killington, Vt. from March 2-4. He will compete against 150 other qualifiers for a place on the Sports Illustrated Kids Next Snow Team. In the 2007 Next Snow Search Finals, participants will compete in Moguls, Carving, Big Mountain Riding, Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Rails, Racing and Big Air Jump.

Skier Brad Bulzan, 13, of Chardon, Ohio placed second in the competition. Bulzan finished third in the Slopestyle event with a score of three. He captured the top spot in the Nastar race, finishing the course in 17.57 seconds.

Rounding out the top three was boarder Alex VonBraun, a 12-year old from Greenwich, Conn. VonBraun dominated the Slopestyle event, finishing with a score of 4.2. But he slipped in the Nastar race, clocking in at 21.22 which placed him fourth.

Charles Bocklet, 12, of Rye, NY, finished third in the Nastar race with a time of 20.27.

For information about future events or to learn more about Okemo Mountain Resort, please call (802) 228-1600 or visit www.okemo.com.