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!
Comp Update… Finally!
I’ve been having so much fun traveling and skiing, that I haven’t found the time or motivation to sit down and write. However, after driving through countless snow caused accidents on the California highway, and then having to entertaining myself in the Nevada hell-hole that is I-80, I’m taking a day off.
I can’t believe that this season is but a few months from coming to an end, and that the first comp in Revelstoke, BC was almost two months ago. Now over halfway through the comp season, the 2010 Telemark Big Mountain/Freeride Comp in Alpine Meadows, California is also already over. This last comp went smoothly even though the weather and snow conditions didn’t feel like cooperating. I did however, have a major break threw, in that I was finally able to stay on my feet, and not get lost for at least one comp run! Even though a hip-check/slide would put me into the 8th spot, I feel that my falling/getting lost streak is finally over! Hopefully I can finally “have one” at the next stop in Kirkwood and show those alpine skiers that a guy on tele-boards can SKI. With three comps down and three more to go, there is still a lot of skiing to be had.
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Josh Madsen from Telemark Skier Magazine also did a fantastic job covering the comp:
(if the video doesn’t open in a player click the transparent “facebook” I cant figure out why some videos load and some don’t)
