A slew of 22 youngsters hit a Kermode Kut course on Shames Mountain last Saturday, competing in a Hit & Run freeride competition. Kids ages eight to 16 tackle the bumps and powder of the slope, judged based on their control and abilities.
It’s the fifth annual event of it’s kind organized by the Shames Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club, and program head coach Chance Healey says it went well.
This type of competition, usually known as extreme ski competitions, is regulated by the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA), Healey said, noting that the Shames event was not sanctioned.
“Ours is for these little guys — it’s to give them a taste of that (type of competition),” he said.
But more than that, Healey says it’s about equipping young skiers.
“Our team motto is making kids and skiers for life… we teach anything that slides to make you a well rounded skier… Our mountain is renowned for our backcountry,” he said, concluding that freeskiing teaches control needed to tackle back country slopes. The results of the Hit & Run last Saturday are as follows:
Age 8-9 male ski winner was Darien Sambo and female winner was Ariele Guay, with Zyah Healey taking second place
Age 8-9 male snowboard winner was Rohan Cooper, with Haayden Doyle in second and Jacob Hartman third.
In the age 10-12 male ski division, Ryan Edmonds took first, Charles-Emile Guay second, and Abel Hartman third.
For female age 10-12, Sola Seib got first, Thayna Healey and Elosie Guay tied for second, and Cora Thomson got third.
In the female snowboard division for ages 13-16, Ryah Leibach got first.