For most companies, the tradeshows and on snow demos are a great place to display next year’s product. While the Smith reps have been busy showing off the 2012 goggle and helmet line at these shows, all one has to do is check out the podium at any major event this year and you will be able to get a good look at the latest from Smith Optics. Our ski team has been on a rampage and it is showing no signs of slowing down. This weekend the final stop of the 2011 Winter Dew Tour rolled into Snowbasin, UT and once again it was the Smith Ski Athletes on display, collecting all the important hardware in front of a huge crowd.

In what has become a delightful trend over the last couple of seasons, Smith slopestyle ace Bobby Brown and Smith halfpipe slayer Kevin Rolland each dominated their respective disciplines. During the 3 stop Dew Tour, both Brown and Rolland consistently schooled their peers and for their efforts they were each awarded the Dew Cup.
In the halfpipe finals, Kevin Rolland left no doubt in the judges mind that he came ready to ski. The last to drop in, Rolland stomped an amazing first run, entrenching him firmly in 1st place with a score of 95. As each competitor dropped in for their 2nd and final run, no one as able to touch Rolland’s score. Standing at the top of the pipe with a victory guaranteed, Kevin Rolland dropped in for his victory lap on the final run of the day.

Kevin attacked this run with the passion and fury that makes him a champion and by the time he stomped his final hit–a left dub cork 1260–he had put the exclaimation point on an amazing day. The judges awarded Kevin with an even higher score of 96.5 and Kevin added a Dew Cup next to his collection of X Games Gold Medals.

Huge congrats also go out to Smith Ski Athlete David Wise who progressed the sport by stomping a left dub cork 1260 straight into a right dub cork 1260. This last trick has never been thown before let alone at the end of a technical combo like that. While David just missed the podium, he showed the world he is charging as hard as anyone and he will no doubt find his way to the top of the podium soon.

For the women, Brita Sigourney carried her momentum from X Games and threw down huge airs, including a 900 and a 720 to finish off her run and take home the first major victory of her career.

In the slopestyle event, Bobby Brown was sitting in good shape to win the overall standings, but he still needed to put down a good run to earn the trophy. With a slight bobble on his first run, nothing was guaranteed as Bobby dropped in for the final run of the day.

Bobby stepped up the pressure, threw down an awesome run, and despite some questionable judging that left him in 4th place and just off the podium, his effort gave him more than enough points to take the overall title.

Now that the major North American contests are over, the athletes will soon travel to Europe for some of the big contests over there. As long as Bobby and Kevin are on their game, it will be hard for anyone to knock them off the podium. Those two are skiing on such a different level right now…congrats!