Kootenay riders shine at Whitewater’s SMITH Jr Freeride Open

Whitewater Ski Resort hosted the 13th annual SMITH JR Freeride Open over the weekend, where several Kootenay riders shone on the podium.

The event, which ran on January 11, 12, and 13, brought together the next generation of skiers and snowboarders from across BC, Alberta, and the Pacific Northwest.

The resort says the crowd and competitor energy was electric, adding that it was proud to witness such skilled and passionate athletes who were “throwing down” impressive jumps with “style, control, and flair.”

“The weather on Sunday for the finals was perfect for spectating, and the crowd at the base of the Blast cheered each athlete on with unmatched enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere of pure stoke that could only be found in Nelson,” said the resort.

Freeride Discipline

The essence of freeriding is self-expression.

The venues for the qualifiers and finals utilized Whitewater’s natural terrain, encouraging riders to choose technical lines and showcase their style and creativity.

This IFSA-accredited event scored competitors based on five categories: line choice, control, technique, fluidity, and style and energy.

Podium Results

Each athlete who reached the podium displayed an immense amount of skill, making their coaches, teammates, parents, and supporters proud.

U12 Ski Women

1. Amelia Weaver – RED Mountain Resort
2. Elsie Rogers – RED Mountain Resort
3. Monroe Crosland – Whitewater Ski Resort

U12 Ski Men

1. Trace Crowe – Whitewater Ski Resort
2. Oscar Mackenzie – Revelstoke Mountain Resort
3. Shiloh Senyk – Whitewater Ski Resort

U15 Ski Women

1. Bryn Eyben – Revelstoke Mountain Resort
2. Izzy Fischer – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
3. Maggie Hood – Revelstoke Mountain Resort

U15 Ski Men

1. Egan Kelly – Revelstoke Mountain Resort
2. Henri Gallant – Revelstoke Mountain Resort
3. Cruz Dechka – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

U15 Snowboard Men

1. Carter Holdsworth – SilverStar Mountain Resort
2. Jackson Sumner – Whitewater Ski Resort
3. River Slootweg – Whitewater Ski Resort

U19 Snowboard Men

1. Joshua Imada – Whitewater Ski Resort
2. Nicholas Bowen – Whitewater Ski Resort
3. Solomon Weinstein – Whitewater Ski Resort

U19 Ski Women

1. Freya Keyserlingk – Whitewater Ski Resort
2. Jaime Moynes – Whitewater Ski Resort
3. Cadence Schmidt – Whitewater Ski Resort

U19 Ski Men

1. Benson Hulbert – Whitewater Ski Resort
2. Toby Macintosh – Whitewater Ski Resort
3. Justin Birkett – Whistler Ski Resort

Danimal Award

1. Elsie Rogers – RED Mountain Resort

For full results, click here. 

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