2011 TGP Big Mtn Telemark Comp: Targhee
This last weekend I competed in the first stop of the, Tough Guy Productions: Big Mountain Telemark Series, at Grand Targhee resort. It has been a long time since multiple big mountain telemark events were linked together in a point-series, and I was stoked to compete and earn some points towards the series! Great snow conditions, nearly untouched venues, and the energized attitude of the other athletes added to my excitement. In the qualifier I sent a double-stager off the cornus and skied down and aired off two more features. The run left me in 5th place headed into day two.
The second day’s venue was a lot gnarlier. Having a visual inspection only, and after we were told that there were pockets of variable and facetted snow, I decided to ski a more conservative line. My smart skiing allowed me to stomp all my landings and stay on my feet, and kept me in 5th place going into the Super Finals! For my super final run I refined my first line choice and skied it harder and faster. My plan to ski more conservative in the super finals dropped me down a spot and I ended up tied for 6/7th place.
I feel that the past few days served to showcase the best telemark skiing that I have ever seen in a competition!!! Congratulations to my good friends: Paul Kimbrough-1st, Will Cardamone-2nd, and Jake Sakson-3rd for taking the top three spots! You guys killed it out there!!!
I also want to thank all my sponsors and especially Beyond Costal Sun Care and Chums for being some of the TGP Series Sponsors!
Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships 2009
The Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships at Red Mountain Resort was my first big mountain competition of this season. In training I fell and when I self arrested I injured my wrist. I decided to take a more conservative line than I initially planned because I didn’t want to hurt my wrist any further and because the crash rattled me and shook me up a little. The event went well although I missed the cut to the finals by 0.8points! Even though I was cut, I feel good about the line I decided to ski and I stomped it. Also I feel that it is worth mentioning that this was an alpine skiing event and I beat over half the field on telemark equipment, and I’m happy about that… Hopefully I can heal up my wrist and come back strong and do well in my next comp at Crested Butte.
