Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Papa John's Bumps and Jumps has built a long-standing tradition of bringing top-level freestyle action to Steamboat Springs.

"These are some of the best-run events around," local freestyle coach Bobby Aldighieri said. "The quality of the organization is as good as any World Cup."

Last week's mogul and aerial events were no exception.

"It's great here," Belarus skier Dmitri Dashinski said after winning the aerial event on Saturday afternoon. "Steamboat has always treated me well."

The aerial event was the jumps part of the event that ended on Saturday, with Dashinski topping Canadian Steve Omischl in a rare tie-breaking event. Hundreds of local skiing fans came out for the event, which was held under clear, blue skies.

The skiers who came to Steamboat were not treated to clear, blue skies on Friday, however, for the first part of the event in the bumps. Heavy snow and cold temperatures dominated the event, along with several young skiers who are climbing the ranks of the U.S. Ski Team.

Twenty-year-old Tony Basile won the contest by beating teammate Jerry Grossi in the final round of the dual mogul format. Another young member of the U.S. Team, Jeremy Bloom, came in third.

"This is my first win in Steamboat, but I always like to come here," Basile said after the win.

Two local skiers, Ean Smith and Travis Mayer, showed well in front of the local crowd which was reduced by Mother Nature's nasty weather.

Smith skied to a fifth-place finish in the final standings by beating Orion Helms in the first round and David Babici and Brady Johnson in the consolation rounds.

Mayer topped Mark Kendrick in the first round and then fell to Grossi in the second. He also lost to Brady Johnson in the consolation round to finish in eighth place overall.

"I think Travis is capable of winning one of these events," Aldighieri said. "He just hasn't had the mileage he needs at this point of the season."