Simon Dumont - Sunday River's Dumont Cup

These skiers roll deep, they’ve got swagger. The stage for the hottest free skiers is Sunday River last weekend in March, and the kingpin is a boy from Bethel, Simon Dumont. Now in its third year, The Dumont Cup is the coolest pro am event in the East that attracts the biggest stars in slopestyle, now on its way to being one of the best freeskiing events in the country!

The 4th Annual Dumont Cup was held March 23-24, 2012 at Sunday River's Rocking Chair Park. The winner was Gus Kenworthy, with Nick Goepper taking 2nd - defending his title from his 2011 Dumont Cup win, and 3rd place went to Joss Christensen. Kenworthy, from Telluride Colorado, won $12,000 cash at the Red Bull Signature Ski Event. Simon Dumont was not able to ski in his 4th Annual Cup, Dumont tore his ACL during practice at the Euro X Games in Tignes in early March, then flew to Vail and underwent surgery at the Steadman Clinic, so he hosted his event from the podium, sporting crutches instead of ski poles, so no big tricks like he had done for his inaugural three Dumont Cups.

Simon Dumont started skiing at Sunday River when he was three, like many Maine kids. But Simon went on to hit it big, winning Gold at The Winter X-Games, spots in feature ski films, and a Guinness World Record for launching 35’ above a quarterpipe at his home ski area in April of 2008. Dumont has also bagged a bunch of sponsors (Red Bull, Target, Kicker, Salomon, Oakley, Nike, Giro,) and appearances on TV shows: Ellen, Late Night and the Today Show.

So yeah, Simon’s pretty famous, more so in the international freeskiing world (Sweden, New Zealand, Whistler, BC) than in Maine. But his annual Dumont Cup pro am slopestyle event at Sunday River, which he started in 2009, brings a bunch of fans who come out to see Simon and his fellow pros.

Simon and his famous freeskier buddies Tom Wallisch who won the 1st Dumont Cup, Jossi Wells, Mike Riddle, Peter Olenick, Gus Kenworthy - who won the 4th annual Dumont Cup, Nick Goepper - who won the 3rd annual Dumont Cup, and Alex Schlopy who won the 2nd annual, travel everywhere together, the very same guys he goes up against at the Winter X Games, and competitions around the globe.

Francis Dumont, Simon’s father, said, “Simon doesn’t get much down time, even when he’s home he is surrounded by all his friends, he’s skiing with them, he’s hosting them, he stays super busy. He just keeps pushing.” His parents, Francis and Barbara Dumont are hard workers too, currently they operate a restaurant called Flounders in Englewood Florida on Manasota Key.

Simon has always pushed the limits, and excelled at sports from a young age in Bethel playing soccer and golf, to gymnastics where he honed his aerial skills that allow him to focus as his spins and flips several stories above the ground.

Brian Schroy grew up with Simon in Bethel and recalls his 720’s and backflips on rollerblades, and on snowblades before he joined the freestyle team at Gould Sunday River. Schroy said Simon was always fiercely competitive, pushing himself and the sport.

“Simon is the leader, he goes bigger than anyone else in free-skiing,” said Henrik Lampert (aka “Henrick DaRockstar) of Manchester by the Sea.

Jeremy Peterson, (aka Soljah Boi) from Okemo Vermont, said at Simon’s 2nd annual Dumont Cup, “Simon basically revolutionized pipe skiing, It was a snowboard venue and Simon just went huge and brought the attention back to skiing.”

Tom Wallisch (aka “T-Crack among other nicknames) won the 1st Dumont Cup. He describes his free ski buddy, “Simon is kind of a jerk, just kidding. He is a really good guy, he loves to ski and he is so competitive that he pushes us all to ski better.”

Jossi Wells of New Zealand said, “Simon is really a nice dude, we really are best friends. We all have stinky socks, but we put up with each other through everything. Oh and I don’t drink so they love that I am the DD.”

With such celebrity status, and a crazy travel schedule, when does Simon say enough?

“This is my downtime, being home with my friends and family for Dumont Cup," said Simon. During the 2nd annual Dumont Cup, Simon insisted all his pro friends ski Sunday River’s Agony, the monster mogul trail under the Barker Quad, just for fun, a break from training on the slopestyle course.

Jarod Richmond, former snow reporter for Sunday River said, “It’s awesome that Simon comes home to showcase the best amateur talent in the east, and brings all his pro friends. Simon was discovered here, so this opportunity is great for other kids, like the Aspen Open of the East.”

Dumont said, “As I came up through the ranks, I had to travel to the west coast for events. I want to make it easier for local kids to break in to the circuit, and save their parents money from having to go to events so far away.” Dumont made his first X Games appearance at 15, and won his first Gold at 17.

“My hope is that everyone continues to have fun at The Dumont Cup, that they are doing what they love, that they are passionate like me. This event is going to become bigger and better each year,” said Dumont. “Sunday River will always have a place in my heart.” The Dumont Cup is now a recognized Platinum Event by the World Association of Freeskiing. Get ready for the 5th Annual Dumont Cup at Sunday River...

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All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke

Simon Dumont Cup at Sunday River