MOUNT SNOW, Vermont — Mount Snow held its first pro/am freestyle competition of 2007 this afternoon, the New Year’s Rail Jam, with a record setting 106 registered skiers and snowboarders.

“We’re thrilled with the turnout, as well as the caliber of competitors,” said Mount Snow events director Greg Fisher. “Our parks and pipes crew built some exciting new rails this year. Everyone couldn’t wait to try them out.”

Shaun Murphy of Pittsfield, VT placed first in the Men’s Pro Snowboard category. Murphy’s score of 29.9 barely edged Anthony Donofrio of Trumbull, CT, who recorded a 29.8. Meanwhile Ian Keay of Russell, Massachusetts was right behind with a score of 29.7.

Parker White of Dorset, Vermont won the Men’s Pro Ski category with a 28.8 score. Ian Compton of Brattleboro, VT finished second with a score of 27.3. Ithaca, New York’s Patrick Cowan placed third with a 27.2 score.

In the women’s pro snowboarding category, West Dover’s Elise Gloeckner’s score of 21.5 was enough to surpass Lizzy Beerman of Weston, Vermont, who had a score of 21. Michaela Casey of Minnetrista, Minnesota finished third with a score of 18.

L.J. Caulfield of Dummerston, VT won the women’s pro skiing category with a score of 27.6. Lara Cevoli of Monroe, New York placed second with a score of 23.8, and West Dover, Vermont’s Jillian Atwood finished third at 20.5.

Mount Snow Academy students had a strong presence at the event, with White, Cowan, and Donofrio representing the men’s program, while Gloeckner and Casey are both in the women’s program.

More than $2,000 in cash and prizes was given away at the event. The pros received cash, while the prizes given to amateur competitors were courtesy of event sponsors, L.L. Bean, Rossignol, Giro, Smith, Armada and Backside Snowboards.

Placing first in the amateur categories were Jack Scheufele of Weston Connecticut (Men’s Snowboard), Corey Tayama of Saratoga Springs (Men’s Ski), Lucyann Murray of Greenwich Connecticut (Women’s Snowboard), and J.J. Gower of Avon, Connecticut (Women’s Ski).

Other events scheduled this season at Mount Snow terrain parks include the Fourth Annual Snowstyle on February 3, and the Bud Light Anti-Gravity Grail event series on February 17-19.

Freeskier magazine voted Mount Snow as having the top terrain park in the East in their November 2006 issue. Currently, Gaitor and his crew are working on a new terrain park in the Carinthia area to open later in the season. With 4,940 feet of jibs, rails, and jumps, it will be the longest terrain park in the East.

Mount Snow is conducting a season-long, interactive contest to name the park. More than 1,500 individual submissions have been received thus far. Submissions can be made at www.mountsnow.com/namethispark.

Photographs and more information is available by contacting Chris Lenois at 802-464-4013, or emailing [email]clenois@mountsnow.com[/email].

To make reservations and get more information about lodging packages at Mount Snow, call 800-245-SNOW or visit www.mountsnow.com.