World Freeski Tour Kirkwood Day 1 17mgs

In the athlete’s meeting last night the energy surrounding this competition was palpable. With a stacked field of guys and girls all pushing each other and themselves, the judges pleaded with competitors to stay save out there. Elijah Lee, brother of Tobias Lee who died in an avalanche last spring in the Baker backcountry, fought back tears as he spoke about the loss of his brother who won the Sick Bird Award in Kirkwood last year. The gathering listened and reflected on the fragility of mortality whilst also being inspired. As was Tobias’ catch-call, Elijah lead the crowd in a roar from deep, down inside that both remembered a fallen friend and charged the buzz for what was to come the next day.

Today dawned with crystal clear skies again and the temps climbed quickly, softening up the venue for the girls. 35 of the best female skiers threw down in what the judges called, "The best display of freeskiing from a field of girls that they had ever seen."

Defending World Champ Laura Ogden skied early and everyone had to chase. Current World and US tour leader Jess McMillan skied strong but safe and finished 4th leading into the Final. Crystal-Lee Rose made her intentions clear skiing into the gnar without hesitation and hitting a big double that none of the other girls dared to go near. She came in with heat and out with more and was unlucky not to stick it. Whilst she never received a Sick Bird nomination, the talk around the BBQs and Coronas was she should have.

Going into the final, only 5 points separates all the girls demonstrating just high the standard of skiing was from the ladies.

The men threw down from the get go with guys skiing lines the crowd hadn’t even thought to consider. The commitment was high and so were the consequences with a few knees giving up the goat and another mangling his hand. Some big guns fell out the gate and some fresh faces emerged. Chris Tatsuno won a Sick Bird nomination for his straightline from the top and misty 720 at the bottom, but speed wasn’t his friend and he wiped out breaking a ski. Matty Richard from Whistler BC, the defending US Freeski Champion hit a big cliff with perfect form but lost a ski on touchdown to exclude him from the finals tomorrow.

Drew Tabke skied a new and creative line to advance in 11th place while Aurelien Ducroz of France tied for sixth today with Joel Jacques of Whistler, BC. The honors today, however, went to Cory Zila who leads Todd Ligare by a point.

Tomorrow’s venue is bigger, badder and has barely a track on it. Tonight it lays scared and waiting for the onslaught tomorrow. The skiing today was breathtaking, but the Finals and Superfinals are destined to be clashes of the titans.

Stay tuned for results and video highlights tomorrow.

WOMEN

ATHLETE NAME BIB HOME RESORT COUNTRY Run 1
1 Laura Ogden 37 Crystal Mtn USA 31.8
2 Elyse Saugstad 110 Squaw Valley USA 31.6
3 Rachael Burks 63 Alta USA 30.6
4 Jess McMillan 11 Jackson Hole USA 29.6
5 Amber Gale 96 Snowbird USA 29.2
6 Suzanne Graham 64 Alta USA 28.8
6 Shelly Robertson 36 Squaw Valley USA 28.8
6 Janina Kuzma 76 Fernie CAN 28.8
9 Hannah Whitney 66 Crested Butte USA 28.6
10 Amy Holland 18 kirkwood USA 28.2
11 Michele Manning 83 Alta USA 28
12 Jane Somerville 12 Aspen/Snowmass USA 27.8
12 Susan Larson 32 Alta USA 27.8
14 Karolina Ekman 26 Sweden SWE 27.6
15 Alaina Huestis 14 Snowbird USA 27.2
16 Sonja Lercher 67 Whistler CAN 27
16 Liz Wells 33 Big Sky USA 27
16 Tamara Guttman 70 Jackson Hole USA 27

Cut Off

19 Kelsey Carmichael 117 Blackcomb CAN 26.4
20 Andria Huskinson 15 Alta USA 25
21 Maria Opelz 22 Val Thorens FRA 24.8
21 Alexa Miller 73 Jackson Hole USA 24.8
23 Dana Carmichael 118 Blackcomb CAN 24.4
24 Cait MacQuarrie 74 Alta USA 24.2
25 KJ Brussow 124 Snowbird USA 23.4
26 Charlene Rymsha 31 kirkwood USA 22.6
27 Huere Darquier 27 Bariloche ARG 22.2
28 Crystal Wright 78 Jackson Hole USA 18.8
29 Carrie Jo Chernoff 25 Crested Butte USA 18
30 Crystal-Rose Lee 100 Whistler CAN 16
31 Tanya Christensen 13 Crested Butte USA 14.6
32 Nancy Elrod 99 Squaw Valley USA 14.2
33 Emily Teague 50 Aspen/Snowmass USA 13
34 Kelly Holland 62 Snowbird USA 12.8
34 Robin McElroy 84 Squaw Valley USA 12.8
36 Joni Wirts 35 kirkwood USA 11

MEN

ATHLETE NAME BIB HOME RESORT COUNTRY Run 1
1 Cory Zila 53 Mammoth USA 36.6
2 Todd Ligare 102 Snowbird USA 35.4
3 Drew Stoecklein 81 Alta/Brighton USA 35
4 Adrien Coirier 24 Les Arcs FRA 34.4
4 Josh Daiek 9 Kirkwood USA 34.4
6 Aurelien Ducroz 10 Chamonix FRA 34.2
6 Joel Jacques 106 Whistler CAN 34.2
8 Craig Garbiel 4 Kirkwood USA 33.4
9 Scott McBrayer 93 Sunlight USA 33.2
10 Justin Modroo 82 Red Lodge USA 32.6
11 Drew Tabke 1 Mauna Loa USA 32.4
12 Christian Boucher 121 Whistler CAN 32.2
12 Julien Lopez 23 La Plagne FRA 32.2
14 Freddy Mooney 107 Winter Park USA 32
15 Maxim Arsenault 77 Whistler CAN 31.8
16 Nick Greener 34 Snowbird USA 31.6
17 Eric Wilkinson 88 Park City USA 31.2
18 Brett Crabtree 103 Whistler CAN 30.8
19 Kevin O'Meara 109 Squaw Valley USA 30.4
20 Alex Blais 122 Whistler CAN 30
21 Guy Morneault 30 Solitude USA 29.6
22 Elijah Lee 55 Eagle Crest USA 29.2
23 Bryce Newcomb 108 Sun Valley USA 29
24 Tyler Boutelle 125 Squaw Valley USA 28.6
25 Mat Jackson 94 Squaw Valley USA 28.4
26 Bobby Lee 69 Alpine Meadows USA 28.2
27 Guerlain Chicherit 3 Tignes FRA 27.8
27 Mike Leake 101 Alpine Meadows USA 27.8
29 Kent Hyden 51 Alta USA 27.6
29 Stainer Carmichael 119 Blackcomb CAN 27.6
31 Drew Krawcsuk 111 Summit County USA 27.2
32 Tom Dunbar 72 Amuri NZ 27
33 Tim Normand 116 Snowbird USA 26.4
34 Daryn Edmunds 97 Snowbird USA 26.2
34 Ron Shevock 98 Kirkwood USA 26.2

CutOff

36 Sam Smoothy 52 Treble Cone NZ 25.8
37 Chuck Loeffler 71 Snowbird USA 25.6
38 John Witherspoon 5 Jay Peak USA 25.4
39 Tony Karwowski 90 Squaw Valley USA 25
40 Matti Wade 92 Berthoud Pass USA 23.6
41 Cachaulo VanLaanen 91 Mt Baker USA 22.2
42 Ben Wheeler 17 Snowbird/Alta USA 20.4
43 Rob Lapier 61 Whiteface USA 19.6
44 Daniel Zeffaro 75 Dodge Ridge USA 18.6
45 JJ Schiller 86 Kirkwood USA 18.2
46 Ryan Banker 65 A-Basin USA 18
47 Jason Dobbs 105 Asquawnymous USA 17.6
48 Brady Smedsrud 8 Little Cottonwood USA 17
48 Anton Kushlan 68 Kirkwood USA 17
50 Matty Richard 7 Whistler CAN 16.8
51 Mike Vaughan 120 Alpine Meadows USA 16.4
52 Chris Tatsuno 123 Sun Valley USA 16.2
52 Forrest Coots 114 Mt Shasta USA 16.2
54 Jonny Manwaring 104 The Canyons USA 16
54 Ryan Kindervarten 89 Mammoth USA 16
56 Chris Tedesko 112 Squaw Valley USA 15.2
56 Carston Oliver 28 Snowbird USA 15.2
58 Kris Thomas 115 Squaw Valley USA 14.8
59 Cliff Bennett 20 Snowbird USA 14.6
60 Dex Mills 85 Snowbird USA 14.4
61 Adam Ruscitto 87 Squaw Valley USA 13.2
62 Neal Valiton 19 Verbier CH 12.8
63 David Wintzer 113 Park City USA 12.6
64 Jack Nelson 6 Alta USA 12.2
65 Jared Dalen 95 Kirkwood USA 12
66 David Alziew 29 Gourette FRA 11.6
67 Jean-Mi Gouadain 21 Gourette FRA TDQ