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Crabtree and Ashton Win Crested Butte Competition

J Dogg — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:16:26 -0500

Rating

Whistler ruled it in Crested Butte this week. Whistler shredders and Doglotion friends Brett Crabtree and Jen Ashton both won the competition! Yeeeeeehooooo. Nicely done guys, way to send it. Here is the update from MSI...

For only the fourth time in the 17-year history of the Subaru U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships (USEFC), Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) allowed competitors to take full advantage of the record-breaking snowfall. CBMR Pro Patrollers dropped the ropes on the (usually off limits) vertical, cliff-strewn ‘Big Hourglass’ venue to today’s finalists and super finalists.

Jen Ashton of Whistler, BC, showcased her classic powerhouse form through the finals and super finals to dominate the women’s field. This approach kept her on the top of the women’s podium with a final score of 93.00. Colby Adams of Breckenridge, CO, finished second with 89.00 points, and Hannah Whitney of Alta, UT rounded out the podium with 79.25 points.

“I was really nervous this morning,” Ashton reflected. “I tried to keep my focus on how fun this was going to be, not how daunting the course was…there are so many exposures on this venue, from huge rocks to tree roots, not to mention how outright steep it is. I just tried to put the demons out of my mind and focus on keeping it fun.”

With CBMR’s natural amphitheater at the base of the venue packed with roaring spectators, the men’s field got underway with finals action that included 30 of the best in the world putting it all on the line.

Coming into today’s finals in the hot seat, Dane Tudor of Red Mountain, BC, gave no slack on his lead, flawlessly skiing through a chain of waterfall leaps, before blowing the crowd away with a massive launch across ‘Gary’s Gap’, a terrain feature never before successfully landed in competition. Hot on his heels, the world class field of athletes pushed each other to the limit, skiing seemingly impossible lines with aggressiveness and style.

“This is just simply unbelievable skiing, there is no other way to put it,” exclaimed Eric “H” Baumm, USEFC Event Director. “The bar just keeps getting raised higher with these guys, and to have this much snow to work with just means they keep going bigger and better every run.”

The super finals kept everyone’s eyes glued skyward as the exclusive group of 10 final men’s competitors took center stage. Today’s undisputed Sick Bird Award winner, Kiffor Berg (Aspen, CO) sent a shockwave through the crowd in his Super Finals run, after lining up to an 80+ foot drop, smirking at his skis, and dropping in for the long flight, skiing away to the delight of every witness.

Ultimately, it was Brett Crabtree of Whistler, BC’s clean skiing and perfect landings which earned him one of the most coveted titles in freeskiing, taking the title with 112 points. Cliff Bennett of Snowbird, UT, claimed second place with 110.99 points, and Dane Tudor of Whistler, BC, finished third with 110.75 points

“I just kept it straight-up,” said Crabtree. “I wanted to stick my landings with no room for second-guessing. I felt so solid all day, just on it.”

The North Face Young Gun award, which rewards a single under 21-year-old competitor who shined throughout the competition, was awarded twice at the 2008 USEFC. The first went to Dane Tudor with the second going to Colby Adams, both only 18 years old, and both taking second place respectively.

Nancy Elrod of Squaw Valley, CA, took top honors in the women’s Masters category with 66.58 points, followed by Michelle Keener of Big Sky, MT, in second with 62.15, and Teri Siebert of Vail, CO, in third with 44.48 points. The men’s Masters was led by Scott Kennett of Telluride, CO, with 83.83 points, Marc Schllhorn of Crested Butte, CO, in second with 77.5, and Tim Naylor of Taos, NM, in third with 70.33 total points.

MSI will broadcast same-day video webcast starting at 7pm MST tonight on the newly redesigned and recently launched www.usfreeskiing.com which features state of the art video and photo player technology. The daily uploads of video, photos, news and results of each day’s competition action will be available after each day concludes.

Final results>>>

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CB Final Results.pdf	55.62 KB

Crested Butte Freeskiing Competition

J Dogg — Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Rating

Words & Photos by Holly Walker

The drive from Salt Lake was short, especially since I was riding with Colorado local Lindsey McIntire, and there was no chance of getting lost. We arrived just before 11pm and moved into our condo on the hill; ski-in ski-out, not bad. The Salt Lake posse was already settled in -- Team F-2 -- our condo unit number.

On Wednesday we registered, stored our schwag bags and headed up the hill to inspect the rocky venues. The girls made a slight detour; we were in search of Susan Medville and our Ten Star helmets (our gracious comp sponsor).

THURSDAY: HEADWALL QUALIFIER: JESSE BRYAN AND CASEY WILSON SHINE

The Headwall was schralped after one hundred competitors had inspected the course on Wednesday, so on Thursday the chaos began. Sparks where flying off skis and in the end, two individuals topped the charts. Jesse Bryan of Team F-2 stomped an enormous air and Casey Wilson skied fast and aggressive.

The day ended with a meeting and all you could eat fajita fest -- competitors fueled up for Day 1.

FRIDAY: DAY ONE: DOUBLE LADIES DAY

The Crested Butte comp is notorious for two things, rocks and local biased judges -- and there were lots of both. But the women ran first and Jenn Ashton of Whistler smashed the stereotype by stomping a huge double clean and earning the highest score of the day. The men followed, putting together creative lines. Everything from Slot Rocks to Body Bag to Dead End Chutes was fair game. Somehow Elijah Lee of Mt Baker managed to almost miss the venue, sending it huge from half way up the hill.

By 2pm the men were finished and the top fourteen women were announced to go up and ski a second run. Despite the women's protest to running a second time on a venue with little snow left, the comp went on and ski bases were thrashed twice in a day. Thanks H-Bomb! In the end, the field was cut to the top 8 women and 26 men who would advance to the finals.

SATURDAY: FINALS / SUPER FINALS: THE DAY OF THE FALL

The sun came out and as the temperatures rose to 10C/50F the Pabst Blue Ribbon started flowing.

A big crowd had come out to watch the final day of carnage on the permanent closures of Hour Glass and Bermuda Triangle. I ran first, yielding fresh tracks down the uncharted territory with mixed snow conditions. I joined the crowd, got comfy, and watched the remainder of the competitors pioneering new pillow lines. Judges were gracious and crashes were acceptable, one guy even finished with one ski and moved on to the super finals.

On the women's side, Jenn Ashton skied safe to maintain her lead. Susan Medville and Carrie Jo Chernoff skied creative and strong lines, the latter sending it huge after getting a little lost.

On the men's side, Chris Tatsuno sent a huge front flip in an attempt to nab the coveted Sick Bird Award. Brady Smedsrud went from sixth to the hospital, after charging fast and taking it into the trees. We wish you a fast recovery!

Local poster boy Jesse Hall skied his line twice, the second time not getting stuck in the tree and took 3rd. Ryan Sutton of Gunnison Colorado took 2nd and 'Dark Hose' Griffin Post of Team F-2 took 1st after skiing an enormous pillow line.

The Awards and roast dinner followed. Jenn Ashton and Jesse Hall were awarded the Competitor's Choice Award and a free Club Med trip. Bobby Block was awarded the Sick Bird Award for skiing with one ski and taking a 30-footer. According to IFSA rules a "competitor and both skis must cross the finish line" but I guess it doesn't matter if its on your feet or not! Next came the booze and the live music, but myself and the other Ten Star girls headed for the private party.

THE TEN STAR PARTY

Ten Star was gracious enough to host a party in downtown Crested Butte for a select group of competitors. The place was packed, freeskiers and strippers partying under one roof, and the free drinks flowed all night. I won't name names but some got naked, some got wasted and some just couldn't get in to possibly this year's rowdiest ski party.

The next morning Team F-2 congregated at the Paradise Cafe in downtown Crested Butte for breakfast to reminisce over the last week and its champions before we each headed off in our separate ways.

For full comp results, click here.

About The Author
Holly Walker is sponsored by Dynastar/Look/Lange, Icebreaker, Smith, Giro, Gordini, www.SouthAmericaSki.com. She enjoys working on her goggle tan on the Snowbird tram deck while dreaming of exotic destinations.