The marriage of professional ski photographers and local professional athletes battling it out for cash and bragging rights is back on. Enter yourself for the opportunity to win $1,000- $2,500 If you've got the creative chops. This competition isn't just about photographers. Both skiers and shooters have until Jan. 21, 2010, to submit an entry form and examples of their work for a slot on this ride slated for Feb. 21-27, 2010.

Ski Salt Lake and its four resort partners - Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude - will pair six of the world's most recognized ski photographers with the best local big-mountain skiers for all expense-paid, five days of skiing in the famed Wasatch Mountains. Of course, they're doing this to get an eye-popping image gallery for next year's media campaign. The winners will have to grant unlimited rights to one photo of their choice from each mountain. That shouldn't be a big deal considering that they will walk away with hundreds of shots of amazing scenery and athletes they keep for their own stock use and the trip to Utah was free.

Ski Salt Lake is looking for "established, reputable photographers stoked on capturing winter action in ways that make people stop and pick their jaws up off the ground." Two of the six spots will be held for ‘undiscovered' local Utah photographers- poised to break onto the scene. Professional shooters living in Utah can't apply. It would give them an unfair advantage. Plus, encouraging photographers from outside of Utah to come and shoot means the images they bring away will make a bigger splash nationally.

Last year's participants can't enter this year, however, last year's Grand Prize image, photographer Ilja Herb is being invited back to defend his title.

Athletes interested in skiing for the Shootout want must have an intimate knowledge of Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude.  They should know what to do, how to do it, and when to make the magic happen in front of the lens.