At a press event for Jackson Hole, we chatted with Travis Rice (a JH native) about his upcoming Quiksilver Natural Selection snowboarding competition -- and this awesome trophy.

This is just second place.

Luxist: Now, the first place one is 24 carat gold, right?

Travis Rice: That's correct. The first place trophy weighs about 40 pounds and it's 24 carat gold. This one right here is silver-plated, and the third place one is polished bronze.

L: Do you know the value of these things?

TR: I do.

L: Can you tell me?

TR: No!

L: Shoot!

TR: It's definitely a very impressive number, like, our whole thing is like, I think a lot of contests just slack on trophies. I think a solid trophy is so important instead of just like "we have a little ribbon for you," and you get 10,000 bucks.

L: So, I'd imagine you have a closet full of those little ribbons.

TR: Yeah, and it pisses me off! I mean, you try so hard for something and then you end up getting this cheap, laser-inscribed piece of glass or something.

L: And the trophy's different every year?

TR: Yeah, this is our second year, and we wanted to do metal this year. And it's original artwork, you know?

L: So tell me about the event; explain it to me like I'm a child.

TR: The contest is called The Natural Selection for a reason. If you've ever seen a snowboarding contest before, for the most part they're man-made, they blow snow for them, they build up all the features, make jumps. This contest, however, is actually held on natural terrain. We let God do all the work. And, you know, we live in Jackson Hole, so the insane snowfall that we get there allows us to hold a contest of this type of scale.

L: Last question: Can it be worn?

TR: You know what? I think it COULD be worn. But it is gonna HURT.

L: Heavy, huh?

TR: I mean, I could try an put it on your head right now, but I think it's not gonna feel that good.

L: I feel like we might get in trouble for that in here.

TR: Yeah, it might just be a faux pas.

If you want to hit Jackson Hole for the Quiksilver Natural Selection competition, start here.

Flagging bookings at many of the finest winter resorts in the country have created a boon for skiers in search of bargains. As the New York Times reports, enticing deals are to be found at such popular -- and typically pricey -- ski areas as Aspen, Vail, Jackson Hole and Lake Tahoe.

Vail Resorts is providing three nights' lodging and three days of lift tickets for the cost of two at its four ski areas in Colorado (Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Keystone) and Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort. In Jackson, rates for the four-night Skier's Dream package at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa have been reduced by $100 per night. Aspen/Snowmass has partnered with Frontier Airlines to offer a free flight, among other incentives, to group and family travelers. For a blizzard of more special offers, check out ski.com.

Luxury real estate in Wyoming has taken a big blow with the sudden closure of Real Estate of Jackson Hole, the largest locally owned and operated real estate firm in the area. The company announced Monday it would close immediately after stakeholders turned down an anonymous investor's offer, as well failed plans to restructure. Many of the firm's brokers have begun to seek work elsewhere. Employees were asked to remove all personal items from company offices and remove all Real Estate of Jackson Hole yard signs from properties. The company had 70 agents listed on its webpage so many will be looking for work in a market that is a bit oversaturated with brokers. Underpinning all this is the stagnant real estate market which Rob Cheek, a top commercial broker who has been a realtor in Jackson Hole nearly 30 years, tells Planet Jackson Hole has been similar to the doldrums of recession of the mid-1980s.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming vacation destination extraordinaire, has added a new convenience for its guests and residents alike!

The new tram, currently under construction and opening December 20th, will carry 100 passengers from 6,311 feet to 10,450 feet up in the mountains in just 9 minutes.

The views from the tram promise to be astounding, as with the old tram which has been there since 1966. A beautiful, "visually inspiring" new base terminal will replace the old clock tower base.

The opening of the new tram will feature live music, fireworks, and all kinds of Jackson Hole festivities. Click here for more information.

Whether you head to Jackson Hole for the skiing, the scenery, or just to get away from it all, the new tram, 100% funded by resort ownership, will make your stay more convenient. You can book a Tram-Slam Package this winter for a stay at Teton Village and be one of the first to ride!

Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has a long list of luxury, seasonal wildlife-focused getaways. The picture at right is for their photography workshops which they hold in September and October.

This year, Spring Creek Ranch has something new for the ladies: The Beauties and the Beasts Adventure is taking place October 2-6.

Subtitled "A Women's Wildlife Adventure," Beauties and the Beasts is a four day excursion, venturing from Jackson Hole up into Yellowstone, where there will be naturalist-led hiking and driving, a trip to Old Faithful, and finally, massages back at Spring Creek Ranch. Ladies only!

There's still room! The price is $1,710 per person for double occupancy and $2,110 for single occupancy.

If I weren't busy keeping tabs on New York for you, I'd be there!

One of Jackson Hole, Wyoming's popular hotels is for sale. The Inn at Jackson Hole is located at the base of the world renowned Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. It has 83 hotel rooms: 25 poolside rooms, 25 mountainside rooms, 20 deluxe rooms and 13 premium suites. The hotel includes heated pool, conference rooms, onsite restaurant and bar, and a lobby complete with fireplace, deer heads and antler chandeliers. For $33 million you can own your own ski hotel.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is a new luxury eco-boutique hotel set to open on January 29, 2008. The resort, which is located near the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming is one of a new crop of LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels in the United States. The six-story, 72-room hotel has a fitness center, rooftop hot tub, two restaurants, and a snowboard and ski rental shop. The guest rooms include organic linens and organic amenities such as shampoo and lotion. The rooms are also home to less eco-friendly features such as flat screen televisions and Bose surround speakers.

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole is the first in a collection of Green hotels launched by the Terra Resort Group. Examples of LEED, and other environmentally sound, elements in Hotel Terra include recycled Eco Shake roof shingles, low VOC carpets, paints and sealants, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, water conservation systems, wind power and the use of recycled products throughout the building. The Hotel Terra is offering a season-long Green Ski Package that offers a four nights' stay and daily lift tickets for two people, starting at $303 nightly.

Today's contemporary home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming sits on scenic 10-acre hilltop. The home has a large circular driveway with stone pavers set in a spiral design. The style is of the home is an interesting mix of sharp angles and circles. The home has four bedrooms and with 9497 square feet of space there is also room for a large kitchen, living room, dining room, study, office, game, media and exercise rooms, guest quarters and a wine cellar. The study has beautiful floor to ceiling white maple bookshelves and a stacked stone fireplace, wet bar and surround sound system making it the dream place to curl up with a good book. The kitchen has ebony granite countertops and two islands with sculptural stainless vents, pendant lighting and semi-circular windows. The office has floor to ceiling custom shelves, cabinets and two desks. The master suite makes the most of the views with a wall of windows and glass doors that open onto a private terrace, cantilevered above the hillside. The master bath has his and hers vanities and closets, heated French limestone floors and a jetted tub surrounded by circular glass windows. The lower level includes a media room with a stacked stone fireplace and built in cabinets, a game room with a contemporary pool table an exercise area and a 700 bottle wine cellar. Outside a hot tub on a stone cylinder above the terrace makes a great place to enjoy a star-filled night and stay warm. I'm not sure what the electricity bill is like on this place but the shot of the home at night all lit up is pretty amazing. This home is listed at $8.495 million.

I've written about stone bathtubs before but you don't often see them in houses because of the weight and expense. It takes a special house to pull off that look. This new house in the Indian Springs Ranch area of Jackson Hole, Wyoming is definitely one of them. This impressive custom home is a new build. It have five bedrooms and has over 9,000 square feet of space. This log cabin deluxe is done in a limited palette of natural materials, tawny marbles and stones, massive exposed wood beams, roughhewn fireplaces and staircases composed of twigs all contribute to the rustic charm. The five-bedroom home also has a home theater and an infinity hot tub outside the master bedroom. The home is listed at $13.75 million. After the jump, antlers, antlers everywhere.

This log cabin deluxe is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming This home sits on 35 acres and has views that include the Snake River and the natural beauty of the Teton Mountain range. Inside,exposed wood beams and stone fireplaces add to the rustic appeal. The four-bedroom home includes a fitness center, library, hot tub and a wine cellar/grotto. It is listed at $19.5 million. After the jump, a meal with a view.

It's perhaps the ultimate log cabin on steroids. We've seen big houses in the Jackson Hole, Wyoming area before but this one is truly huge. The estate offers 12430 sq. ft. of living space in three buildings on over 37 acres with access to the Snake River. It has beautiful views of the Teton mountains, a three acre pond and offers private fly-fishing on miles of streams and creeks. The luxury compound includes the nearly 8,000 square-foot log home as well as a custom log guest house and a bath house. The Western-style furnishings are included. It is listed at $32.5 million. After the jump, we hope you like antlers, because there are some in practically every room. Also check out the cool tree trunk columns at the front of the house.