Louie, Danny, Shaun, Simon Bobby and Torin All Confirmed For Nike Open

The Winter Dew Tour Nike Open, kicking off the 2011-12 season at Breckenridge Ski Resort, will open athlete registration today to snowboarders and freeskiers looking to compete in superpipe and slopestyle. Gold medal Olympian Shaun White will be returning after a two-year hiatus to reclaim the Dew Cup he won in the 2009-2010 season. He will be facing Louie Vito in the superpipe, who left Snowbasin last season with the championship title. Danny Davis is also confirmed to compete this season, which will be his first full year back on the contest circuit after suffering a back injury in early 2010.

Louie Vito – Breckenridge 2010 – Snowboard Pipe Finals

Freeskiing game-changer Simon Dumont is slated to compete, as well as Torin Yater-Wallace, who dominated the superpipe in the Gatorade Free Flow Tour before moving up to the pro ranks in 2010.

Simon Dumont – Breckenridge 2010 – Ski Pipe Finals

For the first time in Dew Tour history, women’s freeskiing will be elevated to a Dew Cup discipline on the Tour. At the Killington and Snowbasin stops, female skiers will compete for points towards the overall standings and the Dew Cup. Expect to see top women’s freeskiers such as Sarah Burke and Jen Hudak bring their top game to the pipe and slope in the race for the title.

Jen Hudak – Snowbasin 2011 – Ski Pipe Finals

Women’s events will take on a new level of focus this year. The ladies will compete in snowboard superpipe and slopestyle in Breckenridge, while skiers will have a chance to show their skills on the slope and in the pipe in Killington. All women’s snowboard and freeski events will be held in Snowbasin at the Toyota Championships, where the women will compete for the Dew Cup in their respective disciplines. Competition will be intense as Kelly Clark, Jamie Anderson and more of the top women’s winter athletes look to seize the opportunity to gain points towards the coveted Dew Cup.

Kelly Clark – Killington 2011 – Snowboard Pipe Finals