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Ski mountaineer to take first step to third world title
By Gary Hook

Kit DesLauriers, fresh from a ski mountaineering expedition in Antarctica, begins her pursuit of a third consecutive world big mountain freeskiing championship this weekend.

DesLauriers and more than 100 of the world's best big mountain freeskiers are competing in the Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals at Snowbird ( Utah) Ski resort, the first of four stops on the world tour.

Before heading off Nov. 17 to Antarctica, where she and husband Rob climbed and skied down Mount Vinson, the highest peak on that continent, DesLauriers was undecided about competing again this year. When they returned home to Jackson Hole, Wyo., the answer was obvious.

"I came back from the ex pedition feeling really fit and to great snow and decided to go for it," she says. "The gods have really been with me on this. It's the best snow since I've been living in Jackson Hole, and the skiing has been fabulous."

She and her husband are accomplished ski mountaineers, having climbed and skied down the highest peaks in North America and Europe.

"If I do well at Snowbird, then I will continue," DesLauriers said.

Other stops on the world freeskiing tour include Verbier, Switzerland; Les Arcs, France; and Kirkwood, Calif.