Red Bull Cold Rush Returns To Silverton Mountain For Big Mountain Skiing, Cliff Drops, And Slopestyle (VIDEO)

Whoever heads Silverton Mountain's marketing department--though it's likely the mountain markets itself--deserves a raise.

Rightly described as "all thrills and no frills," the southwestern Colorado ski area consists of a single creaking chairlift, an old school bus to rent avalanche safety equipment out of, an outhouse, and an old milk truck that collects skiers around the mountain's base and deposits them back at the lift. Throw in 400+ inches of powder and expert-only terrain for attention from the big leagues, and watch 'em gather.

The ski area's first major endorsement arrived in the form of snowboard extraordinaire Shaun White. White built a private superpipe in Silverton's back bowls in 2009, using the privacy it afforded him to develop the 'Double Cork', a trick as innovative as it is dangerous.

Silverton Mountain's media frenzy returns March 24th with the Red Bull Cold Rush, an invitation-only event Powder Magazine believes will determine "the best all-around backcountry skier."

The three-day event concluded March 8 after a series of slopestyle, big mountain, and cliff competitions. Winners have been selected by their fellow skiers in the competition.

A full TV segment on the event will air on NBC at 1:00 p.m. ET March 24. In the meantime, catch highlights from last year's competition below.

WATCH highlights from the 2011 Red Bull Cold Rush: