Over 5,000 fans came out to watch the Visa Freestyle International World Cup on Saturday night.

PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 16) - The Olympic spirit was in the air Saturday night as over 5,000 spectators gathered on the starlit Deer Valley slopes to catch the bumps and jumps at the 2010 Visa Freestyle International. Proudly waving American flags and ringing celebratory cowbells, the fans got an epic preview of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

"This is the closest you are going to get to the Olympics unless you are going to Vancouver," said Park City local Brian Richards. "You're seeing world-class athletes competing at the highest level in a great environment.  It's festive, it's a party, I mean you gotta come out and enjoy it!"

Energy radiated through the crowd as the competition heated up. Flags from the United States, Australia, and Kazakhstan waved high in the air as the athletes attacked the moguls. But, ultimately it was Canada and Australia topping the podium with the American women taking second and third.       

"It's the one event where the whole town gets together," said local Hailey Barndt (Park City, UT). "It's a really fun crowd and we're here to support all the skiers."

Culminating with a colorful fireworks display, the free event had something for everyone. Families, friends, locals and visitors all made the moonlit trek to the Champion run where the 32 Olympic hopefuls battled it out for their chance to top the podium.

John Schwan (Palo Alto, CA) considered the event one of the highlights of his annual family trip to Park City and his young girls couldn't get enough of the moguls action. "The girls love to ski and they have been dying to go to this all day. They sat up on the side of the hill for about an hour and a half- we couldn't get them to leave."

Before heading up the hill to the mogul field, fans had the opportunity to peruse the sample village at Snow Park Lodge. Paul Mitchell passed out free samples of its hottest new products while fans recorded good-luck messages for the Vancouver-bound athletes at the Sprint tent after filling their pockets with Nature Valley Granola Bars. Once on the hill, fans could check out the newest addition to the Audi line of performance vehicles.

For the record-breaking crowd, it was a night to remember and a satisfying taste of the Olympic action yet to come.