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The final day of competition of the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Championship wrapped with athletes finally being able to prove their mettle on Mt. Roberts. Despite visibility issues, the judges gave the thumbs up mid-morning for competitors to move to the favoured location on Roberts.

"We had a field of outstanding competitors," said event director Jack Carey. "All competitors came out like champs. Red Resort put on a great event; Molson put out the money and most importantly, put out the beer. Ski Press and Biglines.com put out the word. But a competition only succeeds when the mountain staff buys into the idea of putting on a great event, and they have in spades this year." Carey also gave head judge Jeff Holden special note for his years of commitment to the sport, from his early days of competition, to his giving back to the sport by encouraging younger athletes to participate.

The entire panel of judges, which also included Dan Slater, last year's winner Pete Velesik, LeeAnn Patterson, and Jimmy Jack, got a rousing round of applause from all the competitors.

Jim Greene, VP of resort operations, said of the event, "Really great lines were skied over the last several days. The sport of freeskiing has a big future ahead of it and all of us here at Red Resort want to see this event continue to grow. 'Captain' Jack Carey has done more for the sport of freeskiing than any other individual out there and we look forward to seeing him, as well as all the rest of you, back here again next year."

"Awesome skiing went on here today,'" said head judge Jeff Holden. "Let's give it up for this impressive field of women who led the way down Roberts today. Their skiing was potent and powerful."

Holden went on to say, "several people really greased their runs but Gabe Gaudet, coming off the top, working his feature, and not hesitating a bit, made his run really stand out." The 'Save of the Day' went to Shane Carmichael, "who's really been improving his game over the last several events he"s entered." Other special mentions went to Kirsty Exner for fluidity, Chad Sayers for 'making it all look so easy," and to Elijah Lee for some tree pruning with his 60 feet of air drop, appropriately dubbed the 'moon drop'."

Moss Paterson, one of last year's judges, was brought up to give out the 'Ill-Eagle' award, Red Resort's version of the World Tour's 'sick bird' award. This award, in the form of a belt buckle, was passed along to Leo 'the Cannonball' Brayman, for his awe-inspiring run.

Proving that BC continues to produce outstanding female competitors, the top five finishers were all from resorts in the province, with Karolina Ekman from Fernie taking first, Jen Ashton from Whistler in second, and Janina Kuzman, also from Fernie, coming in third. Local favourite Kirsty Exner made Red Resort proud by coming in fifth place.

With just a few points separating the top male competitor from the remaining top five, Cliff Bennett of Snowbird, UT, walked away with the top spot and a cheque for $3000. Chad Sayers from Whistler took the second spot and Caleb Mullen from nearby Schweitzer, WA taking third place. In all, a total prize purse of $10,000 was given out.

At the final party, event organizers were already in discussions about how to improve an already great competition, with many athletes vowing to return in 2007.