Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open

J Dogg — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Rating

Words & Photos by Holly Walker

Attack of the Tetons

I picked up Alpine Meadows local Lynn Kennen at the Salt Lake City Airport at 5pm and headed north to Jackson Hole. It was my first time to the Teton Range. Unfortunately with a bum knee, I knew the exploring would be limited. But heck, I had Jackson's first freeskiing comp in ten years to check out and Lynn was in first place on the U.S. Freeskiing Tour - so plenty of stoke to share.

We arrived late after one deer encounter and met up with local Jessica Baker, who graciously provided us with accommodation. The next morning competitors registered and headed to Casper Bowl for inspection.

I rode the Tram. And then again and again and then one more time. Hell, if it's really its last year, I wanted to get my fill. I looked over the edge of Corbet's Couloir. Crap, that hard pack landing can't be good for my knee. I skied around, tail between my legs. In the tram line I saw Kina Pickett. That guy has been in every Warren Miller I have ever seen! Then I met up with Whistler buddy Ian McIntosh. He had been in Jackson for almost three months filming with TGR - boy he had stories.

Casper Bowl Eats Poles

The next morning I woke up late. It was Day 1 Qualifier of the two day comp. I traversed over to Casper Bowl and made it just in time to see local ripper Hanna being carted off by patrol. We hope your legs better Hanna!

On the women's side, another local and first time competitor Crystal Wright skied strong and won the day. For the men, local Conor Horigan stomped a big air followed by a back flip. But it wasn't enough to ebb out Vail rider Tyson Bolduc whose aggressive and fast skiing down a creative line won him the top spot.

"I am super stoked right now, I've never won anything before," said Tyson, but for him it was a day of ups and downs. His good friend and former roommate, Charlie Gaylord took a bad fall against rocks and was knocked unconscious. He was heli-evacuated to Idaho Falls trauma unit with several critical injuries. We all at doglotion.com send our best to Charlie, his family and friends and hope for a speedy recovery!!

Three men remained at the top and the competition came to a halt. They would ski first thing in the morning, Day 2 - the Final Day.

Then there were the poles... Where did they all go? Half the competitors headed back up to search for lost poles. Like a sock you lose in the dryer, somehow skiers finished with only one pole, uncertain of when or how they lost it.

Slushtabulous

On Friday, the second and final day of the third stop on the U.S. Freeskiing Tour, the sun came out in full force and the slush began to form. The three men finished off Day One's business and Justin Modroo made it through. The field was down to 12 women and 31 men.

The women once again skied first, this time looker's right side of Casper Bowl. Then came the men, but things didn't really heat up until the Super Finals. Point releases and wet slides deceived photographers left and right, thinking it was skiers dropping lines. In the end four women vied for the top three spots and twelve men for the top five.

Lynn Kennen of Alpine Meadows charged the hardest, dropped a cliff and took an unfortunate bail, losing her lead but finishing her line. Carrie Jo Chernoff of Crested Butte skied aggressively, dropping a cliff at the top, skiing the rest of her line clean and taking the win.

Justus Meyer of Jackson, just back from Europe, was skiing like a man on a mission. His double cliff drop to tree sent three photographers (including myself) running for their lives. Laughs followed and the crowd hollered, and Justus finished his run - dazed, confused and laughing. His enthusiasm was later rewarded with the coveted Sick Bird Award.

Then once again, there was a flash of fluorescent green. Tyson Bolduc came charging over the ridge and aired off the largest part of the 40 foot cliff band, a line yet to be skied. He successfully landed between rock outcrops and skied away to his first victory.

The awards followed and there was plenty of talk of Kirkwood, the upcoming finals of both the World and U.S. Freeskiing Tour. The party went down at Elanor's in downtown Jackson Hole. Two months in Utah had made me soft; I cringed at the thought of real beer and drove south.

View the full list of final results. Or visit the gallery photos for more images.

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Jackson Hole Freeskiing Open