While the weather on day one hadn't been cooperating with the ongoing along with the Extreme Skiing competition, organizer and old school ripper, Nick Perata, was confident that his ritual of calling the Bluebird Skies would be effective.

"For four days, the weather gods frowned upon the riders; avalanches were coming and, again, the Sugarloaf Saloon prospered..."

Day 1: Shut down. Points leader: Mother Nature.

Day 2: Opened to bluebird, spanning the entire sky! Accompanying the clear skies was a heat wave reaching all but the highest north faces of the Chugach. The first event would be the downhill — 4200 vertical feet and three gates made for some serious leg burning speed. The sun cooked long and hot while riders bathed themselves with every possible photon at the finish line.

Ashley Call ripped up the course with times around two minutes, 40 seconds, for the fastest time points. The nine women flashed times, with defending champion, Karleen Jeffery, running under 3 minutes on the clock for the highest points.

	Last downhill carve

Day 3: Freestyle day. The previously unannounced venue was chosen and competitors began transport to the mountain, known simply as "Girls," with two kickers, plenty of cliffs, a huge natural quarterpipe and rocking rollers. Conditions were sloppy and even the best were going over the bars all afternoon. With the sun came countless avalanches on the southern faces. The sound of rocketing snow was awe inspiring and humbling and continued all evening.

Elizabeth Walker took home first with Pepe Ahonen following in a close second and Karleen Jeffery third.

Jason Borgstede took first for the men, while pioneering legend Sean Farmer's solid runs earned him second. Matt Goodwill and Chuck Glasby tied up for third position.

With two days of Bluebird behind us, something big was bound to come in. For four days, the weather gods frowned upon the riders; avalanches were coming and, again, the Sugarloaf Saloon prospered. Huge fat flakes cascaded in town, normally a rarity at sea level in mid-April. But finally, the gods nodded approvingly and the comp was a go. The day had come, two days had passed, but the talent was itching and amped.

Extreme Day: The chosen venue of Goat Mountain was socked in by clouds and was a very high risk for slides. The last minute call for Python was made even though the safety crew had bombed a huge slide which exposed rock surface.

Clouds threatened, but held, on Python's back side for just long enough to hold the comp, but competitors still had little time to scope their (two possible) lines before being hurtled upward in the Alaskan chairlift, the Astar helicopter.

Axel Papaute, of Belgium, took the top seat for his fluid line, dropping in left, across exposed rock and then dropping air into a pencil-thin chute. Lori Gibbs of Utah broke trail for Axel's run and the two ended up being the only ones riding that terrain. Japanese superstar Tomoki Takaku took kudos for most improved rider of the event and stomped a huge air (his safety crews were fully dialed and ready).

Competitors wore mandatory climbing harnesses, avalanche transceivers, helmets and shovels while on the mountain. Despite weather, organizers and competitors persevered and already the sights have been turned to next year’s event, and a televised broadcast of this year's launching lemmings is in the works. Congrats to all and see you next year.

— Jonathon Stanton, Mountain Zone Correspondent