The Semi-finals went down today with 35 guys and 22 girls clipping in and barreling down Mt Roberts at mach speed. The strongest field of girls ever threw down first and enjoyed blue skies and some snow on the headwall. The standings shifted a little with Crystal Wright moving up to 1st, Karolina Ekman into 2nd while Leah Evans held steady in 3rd. The girls skied the big terrain safe without any major incidents and set the scene for the men to step up to a plate with little or no snow left on it.

While the boys waited for a sled shuttle up to the boot pack, a soccer game kicked off on the piste outside the Paradise Lodge with a ball made from bibs and a helmet. Mike Hopkins went down Ronaldo style, head cam and all when he took a shot to the knee. Dave Treadway was red carded after kickiing Hopkins again and splitting his boot. Meanwhile, the first runners set about sending it huge and stomping it harder.

On firm conditions and deteriorating light, the level of skiing went up as the competition leaders dropped in. The headwall was almost scraped clean, but that didn't stop Caleb Mullen and Tavis Menzies pulling Scot Schmidt, antelope leaps into the thinnest patches of snow and billy goating through serious exposure.

It seems to be the year of the "Teens" though, with Luke Nelson at the tender age of 19 high scoring the day and moving into 3rd, while young gun Dane Tudor hit a 50ft gap to stay in the overall lead and jump a whole 10 points ahead of the rest of the field.

The big movers of the day were Richard Small and Dave Treadway gaining 17 places on the field to now sit 6th and 7th respectively.

The judges decided to open Knife's Edge, weather permitting, for the Final tomorrow, which means Saturday will be a spectacle. Bigger features, a big cheque at the end of it and a hand full of contenders is sure to drive the level of skiing higher yet again in both the mens and womens.

Stay tuned for all the action.

for more info go to www.canadianfreeskiing.com

Check out conditions and other events happening at Red Mountain Resort

Thanks also to Red Property Managementfor the beautiful condo we have to stay and work in.

Results

Womens
1 Crystal Wright 56
2 Karolina Ekman 54.6
3 Leah Evans 53.6
4 Crystal-Rose Lee 52.6
5 Sonja Lercher 51.4
6 Carolina Edwall 50.4
7 Dana Carmichael 47.6
8 Phillipa Hunt 47
9 Rebecka Eriksson 47
10 Janina Kuzma 46.8
11 Kasie Stroshin 45.8

Mens
1 Dane Tudor 84
2 Mathieu Gagnon Theriault 73.8
3 Luke Nelson 71.2
4 Alex Blais 69.6
5 Jeff Harker 63.4
6 Richard Small 63
7 Dave Treadway 61.6
8 Eric Young 61
9 Carston Oliver 60
10 Gord Spurgeon 60
11 Elijah Lee 59.6
12 Darrell Haggard 59.4
13 Mike Hopkins 59
14 Ryan Banker 58.4
15 Ross Jenzen 58.2
16 Colston Beatson 56.4
17 Aaron Schmidt 56