JACKSON FREESKIING OPEN:Tyson Bolduc and Crystal Wright take qualifiers
An extreme skiing competition in Jackson Hole? Finally. It's been 10 seasons since the last big-mountain alpine comp was held at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, a ski hill that lies amid the rugged Teton Range and an obvious choice for a contest venue.
The Casper Bowl – more than 9,000 feet high – was the venue for the inaugural Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open that challenged the country's top freeskiers in the qualifying round Wednesday.
“The venue has a mix of everything,” said forerunner and longtime local Rick Armstrong. The announcers for event organizer Mountain Sports International started making up names of features since, well, there has never been a need without a comp. "Sick Rick" hardly knows the names of the sick lines in the bowl.
"They're old," he said pointing to Shot 20, Wine Bottle and Alaina's Line, the one he made up just then for friend and competitor Alaina Huestis who happened to be standing near him. "I like the venue," he said. "It's really technical and there are a lot of options, and it is long enough to get people tired by the bottom."
With features like cliffs, rock bands and spines, a wide-open run out and a mogul field to finish, Wednesday's venue was a true skier's area with a bit of everything. About 100 skiers – 70 men and 20 women – competed in the qualifying round. The field was cut by one third for today's championships. Athletes are vying for a $7,500 prize purse and a shot at the overall Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Series Title, which earns points for athletes contending for the International Free Skiers Association North American Tour Title. The Jackson contest is the third stop on the Subaru series.
"You've got to make your move and do it right," said Vail's Tyson Bolduc about getting in all points possible in the Casper's relatively short technical section. He was the first place finisher in Wednesday's qualifier. Bolduc skied a technical top section, gapped an 80-foot cliff, and pointed his skis half way off an Alaska-style spine, the MSI guys named Huck Finn, dropping 40 feet into powder.
"There was no question at the end of the day who the best skiers were," said judge Charlotte Moats. "Tyson was head and shoulders above the field."
Drew Tabke of Alta and Conor Horigan of Jackson Hole sat in second and third place, respectively, going into today's championships. In the women's field, first-time competitor Crystal Wright from Jackson placed first by skiing fast and fluid, and staying on her feet – unlike many of the other women.
"This is like a dream come true today," Wright said. Jackson's Lynsey Dyer placed second and Carrie Jo Chernoff of Crested Butte was in the third position.
The event was cut short before the last three competitors could ski when Charlie Gaylord from Snowmass, CO crashed into a rock ridge coming off what local's know as the Boxcar. He was airlifted to Idaho Falls for treatment. "It ended on a low note," said MSI event organizer and announcer John "Dak" Williams. "Today was far more explosive than I thought it was going to be."
Williams said he looked forward to today's event, however, where the terrain on the other side of the bowl offers more transitional features with smaller airs and the possibility for some high-speed skiing. The field will be cut after the morning run. The top five women and top 10 men will compete in a super final to determine the inaugural Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open champion.