BY LIZ CHAMBERLAIN
Callie Allen brought home two fists from the USASA Big Mountain West Series qualifier held last weekend at Woodward Park City, Utah. And numerous other athletes had top five results.
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Freeski and Snowboard teams took nearly 20 athletes to Utah to compete in halfpipe, rail jam and slopestyle competitions. It was the first opportunity for most of the athletes to combine jump and rail sequences on a slopestyle course.
Slopestyle athletes Camille Armeen, Naomi Gorringe, Vivian Smith, Rylan Olson, Bixby Swanger and Miles Hatzenbuehler finished in the top 10 for the Breaker category (ages 13-14), while Callie Allen took first place for Youth Women.
“The athletes stepped up to the plate in slopestyle, showing off their style and comfort despite unfavorable weather conditions,” said snowboard coach, Scott Fairfax.
On day two, the athletes showcased their style in the halfpipe event, where practice on and off of Baldy really shone through. “The kids wasted no time dialing in runs,” said longtime Program Director, Andy Gilbert. “The energy level was high and a smaller halfpipe allowed riders to put together more creative runs with some technical tricks and spins.”
Results from the halfpipe day boasted several SVSEF athletes breaking into the top five, including Naomi Gorringe, Camille Armeen, Vivian Smith, Rylan Olson, and Charlie Theobald in the Breaker category; and Callie Allen taking another first place for Youth Women.
The SVSEF Freeski team took center stage in all three disciplines with seven athletes placing in the top four for their age groups, including Brayden Smith, Blue Allen, Emmett Crist, Kai Van Bueren, Leo Hayes, George Corkery, and Spencer Ferries. Adding fuel to the fire, five of the athletes made their mark at the start of the series by placing in the top five in Jackson Hole - including Kai Van Bueren, Blue Allen, Barrett Beyer, Brayden Smith and Leo Hayes.
Further south, Freeski Futures Head Coach Gui Brown joined athletes Zeppelin (Zep) Pilaro and Anton Holter at the first stop of the U.S. Revolution Tour at Copper Mountain in Colorado. The Revolution Tour was established as a stepping stone for athletes ages 13-18 to compete at an elite level on a national stage.
Coach Gui left the tour proud of the athletes' newfound accomplishments.
“The boys flourished during the slopestyle competition,” he said. “Both athletes were able to link big doubles in their training runs; Holter with a switch left-side double 900 into a forward left double 1260 with a blunt grab. Pilaro managed to do the same switch double 900 into a forward left double 1440. These boys were able to up their game with a smile on their face and the rest of the field undoubtedly took notice that these two will be forces to reckon with in the years to come!”
The athletes are competing this weekend in the 2024 USASA Big Mountain West Dollar Slopestyle and Baldy Boardercross event Feb. 1-4.
“The Dollar Slopestyle is always a fun hometown event,” said Freeski Program Director Tyler Conway. “The park crew built an impressive slopestyle line two weeks ahead of the competition, so we’re excited to see the kids bring new tricks to the table as they compete on home turf.”
With the boardercross event moving from Dollar to Baldy for the first time in over a decade, the slalom should be an exciting new course for all participants.
THIS WEEKEND’S SCHEDULE:
Friday, Feb. 2 - USASA Boardercross/Skiercross #3 and #4
Races will be held on Lower/Mid Hemingway
9:45 a.m. Time Trial to set brackets
12:00 p.m. Boardercross/Skiercross #3
1:45 p.m. Boardercross/Skiercross #4
Saturday, Feb. 3 - USASA Dollar Slopestyle #1 (Freeski and Snowboard)
10:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Heat 1 Snowboard
1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Heat 2 Freeski
4:00 p.m. - Awards
Sunday, Feb. 4 - USASA Dollar Slopestyle #2 (Freeski and Snowboard)
10:15 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Heat 1 Freeski
1:10 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Heat 2 Snowboard
4:00 p.m. - Awards
SVSEF Snowboard Team Results at WWPC:
Jan 25: Slopestyle
Breaker Girls (13-14)
Camille Armeen - 2nd
Naomi Gorringe - 4th
Vivian Smith - 5th
Breaker Boys (13-14)
Rylan Olson - 6th
Bixby Swanger 9th
Miles Hatzenbuehler - 10th
Youth Women (15-16)
Callie Allen 1st
Jan. 26: Halfpipe
Breaker Girls (13-14)
Noami Gorringe - 1st
Camille Armeen - 3rd
Vivian Smith - 4th
Breaker Boys (13-14)
Ryan Olson - 1st
Charlie Theobald - 5th
Youth Women:
Callie Allen - 1st
SVSEF Freeski Team Results at WWPC:
Jan 24: Rail Jam
Freeski Girls (11-14)
2nd - Blue Allen
Freeski Boys (7-10)
4th - Brayden Smith
Freeski Boys (11-14)
2nd - Leo Hayes
4th - Emmett Crist
Freeski Men (15-22)
1st - Kai Van Bueren
Jan 25: Slopestyle
Freeski Girls (11-14)
1st - Blue Allen
Freeski Breaker Boys (13-14)
1st - Barrett Beyer
Freeski Youth Men’s (15-16)
2nd - Kai Van Bueren
Freeski Men (17-18)
1st - George Corkery
3rd - Spencer Ferries
Jan 26: Halfpipe
Freeski Breaker Boys (13-14)
1st - Barrett Beyer
2nd - Emmett Crist