WESTLOCK – Skiers from across Alberta took part in the annual Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders Club Compeition, at the Tawatinaw Valley Ski Hill, March 4–6.
A total of 85 athletes, including 22 girls and 63 boys, ages 16 and under, competed in the two-day competition. The Freeriders earned 29 medals in Slopestyle and Moguls events over the weekend.
“It’s beautiful (today). When the sun shines, it makes everybody want to be outside more. Our last competition (in 2018), it was -35 to -40 degrees, so this is welcomed,” said Tara Jardine, club vice-president and event organizer.
The competition, sanctioned by Freestyle Canada and organized by the Freeriders, in partnership with Freestyle Alberta, was not held for past two years due to the pandemic. The Freeriders alternate as host of the event every second year, with the Edmonton Freestyle club. Medals are awarded to competitors in U10, U12, U14, and U16 age categories.
“We’re really excited to be able to have a competition this year. It’s been great,” said Jardine, noting awards for first, second and third place in each age category, male and female, were presented for the mogul event during the banquet Saturday night at the Westlock Memorial Hall, and on Sunday afternoon for the slopestyle event.
One of the female skiers from the Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders, was 14-year-old Sage Korth, who has been with the club and competing in the annual event for several years.
“I like meeting new people, the competitive aspect of it and testing my skills and seeing what I can do,” said Korth, noting what she has learned over the years from the club and from participating in the annual competition. “It’s a really good group of people and we push each other to do our best.”
Fellow club member and competitor, 14-year-old Brenden Miller, also noted some of the best aspects of skiing with the Freeriders and competing in the annual event.
“I like skiing with my friends and having fun doing some cool tricks,” said Miller, noting the positive impact from both the club and the competition on his skiing development. “Definitely the coaches. How crazy they are, how much I looked up to them and how much I wanted to be as good of a skier as them,” he said.
Jardine said there are several reasons why youth compete, including the confidence boost it provides when they land a trick and the many friendships formed among participants.
“We have kids in our club from Athabasca, Westlock, Stony Plain, Slave Lake, so they meet kids from different areas (across Alberta),” said Jardine, noting the support participants receive from fans and families at the event. “It’s a very community-oriented sport. You can do your biggest trick, you can do your smallest trick and everybody’s praised for what they do. There’s a lot of encouragement to keep going.”
Results
Mogul Event – Saturday, March 5
Female Category U10
1 – Anja Allen – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Cedar Timmins – Jasper Freestyle
3 – Aubrey Heavin – Central Alberta Freestyle
Female U12
1 – Haeley Hammerstrom – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Abigayle Coupland – Jasper Freestyle
Female U14
1 – Natalie Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Harper Turnbull – Central Alberta Freestyle
3 – Emilie Bisaillon – Jasper Freestyle
Female U14
1 – Sage Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Jenna Erdely – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
Female Overall
1 – Sage Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Natalie Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Jenna Erdely – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
Male U10
1 – Nolan Schauenberg – Edmonton Freestyle
2 – Hunter Osepchuk – Edmonton Freestyle
3 – James Handerek – Jasper Freestyle
Male U12
1 – Seth Schauenberg – Edmonton Freestyle
2 – William Allen – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Tanner Macyk – Calgary Freeriderz
Male U14
1 – Brendan Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Marshall Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Hayden Matthews – Central Alberta Freestyle
Male U16
1 – Owen Chorney – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Ian Vandervelde – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Ethan Burton – Edmonton Freestyle
Male Overall
1 – Brendan Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Owen Chorney – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Marshall Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
Slopestyle Event – Sunday, March 6
Female U10
1 – Anja Allen – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Hattie Mitchell Edmonton Freestyle
3 – Clara Gurney Optimus Freestyle
Female U12
1 – Natalie Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Isla Mitchell – Edmonton Freestyle
3 – Madilynn Phillips – Central Alberta Freestyle
Female U14
1 – Haeley Hammerstrom – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Abigayle Coupland - Jasper Freestyle
Female U16
1- Sage Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Jenna Erdely – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
Female Overall
1 – Sage Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Natalie Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Jenna Erdely – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
Male U10
1 – Nolan Schauenberg Edmonton Freestyle
2 – James Handerek Jasper Freestyle
3 – Brody Pilip Edmonton Freestyle
Male U12
1 – Tanner Macyk Calgary Freeriderz
2 – Forrest Cruickshank – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Seth Schauenberg – Edmonton Freestyle
Male U14
1 – Brendan Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Oliver Olstad – Central Alberta Freestyle
3 – Marshall Korth – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
Male U16
1 – Julian Miller – Northern Extreme
2 – Owen Chorney – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
3 – Cohen Deck – Northern Extreme
Male Overall
1 – Brendan Miller – Tawatinaw Valley Freeriders
2 – Julian Miller – Northern Extreme
3 – Oliver Olstad – Central Alberta Freestyle
