With day one swept under the rug due to weather, the finalists could hardly be contained as overnight the rain turned to snow and they woke to a bluebird day at Thredbo Resort, and a perfectly groomed, seen-to-be-believed jump.

As the athletes stood at the base and visualised their first hit off the 100-foot, four-storey-high Charles Beckinsale-built behemoth, there was an audible murmur of nervous chatter and apprehension.

With speed checks underway and just a few warm ups on the 65-ft practice jump, the athletes wasted no time getting to work on producing some of the world’s most aesthetically pleasing tricks for the cameras.

Five invited young guns from Skiers Junction, all aged 15, also joined in the warm up session alongside their local and international heroes, who no doubt provided inspiration for Australia’s future freeskiers. The standout of the group was junior Salomon team rider Ollie Immurs with his clean grabs and smooth style.

Local Jindabyne crowd-pleaser, Jesse Houghton launched into a dramatic, laid-out front flip and then later a double cork 1080 mute grab. Older brother and fellow Salmon team rider, Jordan Houghton equally impressed with his double cork 1080 high mute grab.

2010 reigning champion, Bobby Brown nailed the trick-of-the-day with a switch double cork, 1440 mute grab to Japan.

Day two was an unfortunate early end for Chris Laker (US), who came unstuck as he attempted a triple cork and was taken down the mountain with a serious shoulder injury.

Yet it was Anna Segal – the only female competitor in the competition and Australia’s freesking princess – who was the crowd fave, hitting the massive jump with a 360 mute grab to huge applause from spectators.

“The perfect conditions today meant we could all get out there and throw down our best…there is no doubt there is a lot more to come from all the riders throughout the next couple of days,” said Anna.

Jordon Houghton revealed his feelings on first arriving at the jump site. “The jump is massive. No one really wants to go first but we all thought my brother Jesse being the youngest, could handle it. And he did.”

After the finalists have laid down their best over three days of hitting monster jump, members of the public will then have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for their single favorite big-air trick to take home $10,000, the biggest first place prize on Australia’s events calendar.

http://mpora.com/videos/AuUwGDFaJ
MPORA Action Sports >>

Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the trip.