When Simon Dumont isn’t living out of a suitcase, he makes his home in Dillon, Colo.

But once upon a time, the freeskiing dynamo was tearing up trails at Sunday River before beginning his vagabond life to become one of the biggest names in the action sports world.

Dumont, a Bethel native, comes home to Sunday River this weekend to throw down in the third annual Dumont Cup, a pro/amateur jam competition that has grown into the resort’s marquee spring event.

Qualifiying runs begin at 10 a.m. today. Finals take place 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“I want the jumps to be perfect, the jibs to be great,” said Dumont, 24. “I want this event to be comparable to any other venue out there, not just on the East Coast. And I think our format is unique. It’s appealing to kids that sign up.

“Even if they know they can’t make the finals, they’re going to be able to hang out with pros all day, shake some hands and maybe learn a new trick.

“It’s more about the lifestyle, the feeling and not just the event itself.”

Dumont will be joined by some 200 freeskiers — both professionals and amateurs — who will make their way down the Sunday Punch and Rocking Chair course in the slopestyle event.

They will face three rail features and three jumps.

They will be judged on style, difficulty, originality and amplitude.

“It’s going to be a good show,” said Dumont. “The field is going to be pretty deep. It’s hard to motivate a lot of people this time of year. They want to film or relax. But we have a deep field.”

Other pros expected to attend: Tom Wallisch, Gus Kenworthy, Peter Olenick and Jossi Wells.

“I’ve heard from a lot of parents who’ll say ‘My son was so happy you had that event. It really opened up his eyes, made him realize the potential he has.’ I hope I’m giving back a little bit with this event,” said Dumont.

Dumont, who has won seven X-Games titles and been featured in ski movies, first returned to Sunday River in 2008 to set a record for the highest air on a quarterpipe in the Guinness Book of World Records.

He launched 35 feet, eclipsing the previous mark of 32 feet, 6 inches.

He hosted the first Dumont Cup in 2009 and returned last year, upping the field to 150.

He won bronze in the X-Games this winter, and has campaigned to get superpipe skiing into the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

“The highlight of my year was consistency,” said Dumont, who competed in superpipe events. “I think I had five podiums this year. It felt good to get back in the halfpipe scene and going down and being consistent.”

Jay Scambio, the terrain park development manager for six Boyne resorts around the country, said the course is longer this year and may call for two sets of judging tables.

“We’re trying to figure out if they’re going to use video or if we have to separate the judges into two groups,” said Scambio. “It’s still up in the air right now.”

He said three snowcats have been pushing around snow for more than a week, bulldozing it up Rocking Chair Park and consolidating piles to make three large jumps.

“Simon and the park manager here basically talked over the course,” said Scambio. “He told us what he wanted to see in it and we talked about what was feasible for us.”

The format of the event sends 40 amateurs to the semifinals Saturday to compete side by side with the pro division.

Judges will determine the top three overall winners along with a standout amateur.

More than $20,000 in cash and prizes will be given out.

Staff Writer Jenn Menendez can be contacted at 791-6426 or at:

jmenendez@pressherald.com