SALOMON JIB ACADEMY FINAL: Youngsters Throw Down at Mammoth

For a gallery of images from this event go HERE

The 2008 Salomon Jib Academy Final was the experience of a lifetime for twelve young freeskiers from all over the globe. The action concluded on Friday at Mammoth Mountain Resort as exhausted, sunburned skiers boarded the vans at 6 am for the Reno airport. These athletes sessioned Mammoth’s Unbound Terrain Park as well as participated in a private shoot in Mammoth’s South Park at Chair 4 during the week. After four full days on the snow, some swimming, skating, soccer and other camp activities, most kids were forced to hang up their skis and short poles until next season.

The Salomon Jib Academy Tour is a series of Slopestyle events for freeski athletes ages 16 and under. Many countries participated in 2008, including Norway, France, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. The winners of these stops were invited to Mammoth Mountain Resort as the ultimate ski prize. At Mammoth, athletes were joined by the Salomon pro team of Sammy Carlson, Mark Abma, Simon Dumont, Mike Douglas, Charles Gagnier and Kaya Turski.

“I had the best time of my life skiing with these guys and learned a new trick everyday!” said Mount Hood Meadows winner Arlie Hoene from Boise, Idaho.

Although the real prize was attending the week in Mammoth, some other great awards were given out. These prizes included a $500 check for ski travel to Charlie Owens representing App Terrain Park; a free week at Windells camp for Sean Jordan, winner of the Sno Mountain, Pennsylvania stop; and Kim Boberg from Sweden won himself a coveted spot in this fall’s Peak Performance King of Style in downtown Stockholm.

Salomon would like to sincerely thank all of the resorts, athletes, parents, partners and friends that made the second Jib Academy Tour a huge success. Look for the addition of Salomon Austria, Spain and Great Brittan for next season! For more information, go to salomonjibacademy.com.

For a gallery of images from this event go HERE