Just minutes ago, the ESPN Ski blog let the cat out of the bag and reported that Simon Dumont has signed a three-year deal with HEAD. The announcement comes after months of speculation on where the perennial X Games medalist would go after parting ways with Salomon.

Dumont says about the new partnership, "It's awesome to be a part of a winning team. Being alongside athletes like Ted Ligety, Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, Elisabeth Görgl—and being compared to World Cup athletes of that caliber—is very exciting for me. They've opened up their race program to me, and are treating me like a world class athlete. I love the skis, and I love the materials they use. It's a team of athletes that loves to win, and you know how much I love to win."

After numerous years and countless wins on the French brand Salomon, Simon was seen testing out various ski manufacturers' products this fall in New Zealand, fueling the fires of rumor on where The Dumont might end up.

While HEAD has recently been quiet in the North American park and pipe scene, the signing of Dumont signals what could be a large move back into the limelight. Despite retaining the services of Sweden's Jon Olsson, HEAD has lost a number of athletes on both sides of the pond, including Grete Eliassen, Oscar Scherlin and Tim Durtschi.

Dumont at The Dew Tour in Killington, VT | P: Shay Williams

Dumont visited the HEAD HQ in Austria last week to finalize the deal, which is effective immediately. Dumont is expected to be seen on HEAD skis, boots and bindings in the coming weeks and at the North American competition debut—the US Grand Prix—December 7-10, 2011 at Copper Mountain, CO.

VIDEO: SIMON EXPLAINS MORE ABOUT THE NEW PARTNERSHIP.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: READ IT HERE.

FOR MORE ON SIMON, CHECK OUT OUR RECENT STORY ON THE HISTORIC RED BULL CUBED PIPE.