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Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships Returns to Red

J Dogg — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:13:32 -0500

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The Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship presented by Ledcor is back at Red this January featuring some of North America’s top freeskiers. The Open Finals will be held on legendary Mt. Roberts which boasts some of the best freeskiing terrain in North America and one of the longest, most challenging venues on the Big Mountain Freeskiing Circuit. The event starts with the Junior competition January 9-10, followed by the Open Senior event January 15-17. A handsome cash purse of $12,000 will be awarded to the top Open Senior skiers.

Ledcor is the Presenting Sponsor of the event. Global construction company, Ledcor built Red’s luxury ski-in/ ski-out residence, Slalom Creek. As a general principle, Ledcor supports community by providing local opportunities through employment and supplier contracts. Peter Hrdlitschka, President of Ledcor commented, “As the premier builder of choice at Red Mountain, Ledcor Construction is once again thrilled to be sponsoring the Canadian Freeskiing Championships this coming January. This is our third consecutive year sponsoring this event and we are looking forward to another successful championship.”

Red Mountain Resort’s General Manager, Erik Kalacis states “Red is proud to be hosting this Canadian classic for an eighth year and we look forward to watching these incredible skiers ripping up the steeps, taking huge air and enjoying our fabulous terrain. We also sincerely thank Ledcor for their continued support. It’s great to have a partner that gets involved, shares the passion and totally gets it!”

The format of the competition will follow the International Free Skiers Association’s (IFSA) Big Mountain Freeskiing guidelines. Participating athletes will be judged on line choice, fluidity, technique, aggression and control. The IFSA recognizes the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship as “a pinnacle in North American competitive freeskiing”. Captain Jack Carey returns as Chief of Competition along with Jeff Holden who will lead the team of judges as Head Judge.

Event Schedule:
*Dates have been confirmed however, specific times are subject to change

Date	Event & Location
Junior Registration Thursday, January 8, 2009	8:00AM-4:00PM: Junior Athlete Registration 9:00AM-3:00PM: Competitor run inspection and training 4:30PM: MANDATORY Junior Athlete’s meeting
Junior Qualifier Friday, January 9, 2009	Location: Link's Line & Papoose Bowl 7:30AM: Competitor run inspection 9:00AM: Junior Qualifier 4:30PM: Athlete meeting for results / start order
Junior Finals Saturday, January 10, 2009	Location: Link's Line 7:30AM: Competitor run inspection 9:00AM: Junior Finals 5:00PM: Dinner & Awards
Senior Registration Wednesday, January 14, 2009	8:00AM-4:00PM: Senior Athlete Registration 9:00AM-3:00PM: Competitor run inspection and training 7:00PM: MANDATORY Athlete’s meeting
Senior Qualifier Thursday, January 15, 2009	Location: Link's Line 7:30AM: Competitor run inspection 9:00AM: Senior Qualifier 5:30PM: Athlete meeting for results / start order
Senior Finals Friday, January 16, 2009	Location: Mt. Roberts 9:00AM: Senior Finals 5:00PM: Athlete meeting for results / start order
Senior Finals Saturday, January 17, 2009	Location: Mt. Roberts 9:00AM: Senior Finals 7:00PM: Dinner and Awards 10:00PM: After-party
Sunday, January 18, 2009	Weather Day

Registration for the Senior Open event is limited to skiers 19 years and older. The Junior event is open to skiers aged 7-18. For registration and event information, please visit: www.canadianfreeskiing.com or phone Red Mountain Resort at (800) 663-0105.

Ledcor Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship - Red Resort

J Dogg — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:24:58 -0500

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Ledcor Group of Companies has partnered with Red Mountain Resort for the second year in a row to present the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship, Canada's biggest and longest running Big Mountain
Championship.

From January 10th to 20th over 200 freeskiers will visit Red for two separate competitions - a Junior event and an Open event. A handsome cash purse of $12,500 will be awarded to the top Open Mens and Ladies skiers who dominate the steeps, deeps, chutes and cliffs of Mount Roberts, which boasts some of the best freeskiing terrain in North America and one of the longest, most challenging venues on the Big Mountain Freeskiing Circuit.

A global construction company, Ledcor is leading the construction of Red's condominium project Slalom Creek. As a general principle, Ledcor supports community by providing local opportunities through employment and supplier contracts. Peter Hrdlitschka, President of Ledcor, states "As the premier builder working at the exciting development of Red Mountain Resort, Ledcor Construction Limited is pleased to sponsor the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship for a second consecutive year".

Erik Kalacis, Red Mountain Resort's General Manager and Vice-President of Sales and Marketing states "We sincerely thank Ledcor for participating again this year. Ledcor's support is much appreciated since it has increased the prize money and elevated the production values of this world-class event. The athletes, media and spectators are in for a great time with some spectacular skiing!"

The format of the competition will follow the International Free Skiers
Association's (IFSA) Big Mountain Freeskiing guidelines. Athletes will be judged on line choice, fluidity, technique, aggression and control. The IFSA heralds the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship as "a pinnacle in North American competitive freeskiing". Jeff Holden returns to lead the team of judges as Head Judge for another year. Captain Jack Carey returns as Chief of Competition.

Event Schedule:

Friday Jan. 11, 2008

8:00AM-4:00PM Junior Athlete Registration (Guest Services/Ticket Office)
9:00AM-3:00PM Course inspection (Link's Line)
7:00PM Mandatory Junior Athlete's meeting (Sourdough Alley cafeteria)

Saturday Jan. 12, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Mandatory inspection run (Link'sLine)
9:00AM Junior Competition - Qualifying Round
Sunday Jan. 13, 2008 7:00AM-8:30AM Inspection run (Link's Line)
9:00AM Junior Competition - Final Round (Link's Line)
2:00PM-3:00PM Awards (Day Lodge)

Wednesday Jan. 16, 2008

8:00AM-4:00PM Open Athlete Registration (Guest Services/Ticket Office)
7:00PM Mandatory Open Athlete's meeting (Sourdough Alley cafeteria)

Thursday Jan. 17, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Mandatory inspection run ( Link's Line)
9:00AM Open Competition - Qualifying Round ( Link's Line)
4:30PM Athlete meeting for results / start order (Sourdough Alley
cafeteria)

Friday Jan. 18, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Inspection run (Mount Roberts)
9:00AM Open Competition - Semi-Final Round (Mount Roberts)
4:00PM Athlete meeting for results / start order (Sourdough Alley cafeteria)

Saturday Jan. 19, 2008

7:00AM-8:30AM Inspection run (Mount Roberts)
9:00AM Open Competition -Final Round (Mount Roberts)
6:00PM Athlete Dinner and Awards (Day Lodge)
9:00PM After Party presented by Skier Magazine (Rafters)

Sunday Jan 20, 2008 Weather Day

The Junior event returns to Red for a second year with a new age category 7-11 and an additional day of competition. Held on Link's Line underneath the Motherlode Chair, skiers aged 7-18 will compete in a two-day event on January 12th and 13th.

The Open competition is limited to skiers 19 years and older. On January
17th the Open qualifications on Red's most difficult in-bounds run, Link's
Line, will determine the top 50 semifinalists. The competition will then
move to Mount Roberts for two days, visible to spectators from Granite
Mountain's Ledges area.

For registration forms and more event information, please visit
www.canadianfreeskiing.com or phone Red Mountain Resort at (800) 663-0105.

Redbull COLD RUSH at Red Mountain

J Dogg — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:32:05 -0500

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COLD RUSH: A PROGRESSION OF SKIING TO FIND THE BEST IN SKIING
Multi-discipline event includes a summit approach, abandoned mine ski through, freeskiing component and backcountry slopestyle.

Red Bull presents Cold Rush, a progression of skiing that brings together 20 of the sport's top athlete skiers with one objective: to find the most versatile and best all-around skier. The event will take place on Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, BC, where the entire venue sits on top of countless miles of abandoned mining tunnels. To commemorate the gold rush dreamers of yesteryear, Cold Rush will launch from an above-ground mine site, with the duration of the event spanning Feb. 9 - 10.

On Day One, skiers will drop in and ski through the old gold mine and onto a service road that will lead to a trail head. At the trail head, athletes will prepare for and commence a summit approach on Mt. Roberts. Once athletes reach the top of Mt. Roberts, they will prep for the next day by identifying and inspecting their preferred line of choice.

With Day Two brings the big mountain portion, where skiers will hit their favourite line down the face of Mt. Roberts. The afternoon on Mt. Roberts brings a backcounty slopestyle where 3-4 big features will be built and shaped to allow for a rider-judged jam session.

Rider feedback will be crucial in determining our winner, with points awarded for each component: Summit - maximum 20 points; Freeskiing - max 40 points; Slopestyle - max 40 points. The athlete who records the highest score out of 100, also takes home the top and only prize: $10,000.

The athlete roster for Cold Rush represents some of the top talent in the world, including: Mark Abma who skis out of Whistler, BC; Rory Bushfield, Whistler; Eric Hjorleifson, Whistler; Andy Mahre, Yakima, Washington; and Chris Rubens, Revelstoke, BC.

The high-level roster mirrors what Cold Rush aims to bring to North America's freeski scene. Although Canadians are renown as innovators in the sport, and our mountains premiere playgrounds, the freeski scene flourishes in the backcountry away from the eyes and minds of the general public. Cold Rush aims to bring the incredible skills of the participating athletes to a resort that accommodates their talents and to an audience that appreciates their performance.

Additional supporters of this event include K2, Diamir, Colltex, and of course, Red Mountain Resort.

For a full athlete roster, additional information on Cold Rush, and post-event images and video, please visit www.redbull.ca/coldrush.

Red Mountain Junior Freeskiing Comp

J Dogg — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 23:16:41 -0500

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Fifty-nine Junior competitors this week (Jan 8th, 2007) completed the first leg of the 2007 Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship presented by Ledcor in harsh weather conditions.

High winds and snow didn’t curb the enthusiasm of this new generation of Freeskiing athletes. The skiers charged in steeps on Red Mountain Resort’s Link’s Line run with excellent snow conditions. The tunes were cranking, the spirits were high and the skiing was spectacular.

The top qualifiers had two competition runs and the scores from both runs were added to determine the final score.

Female 12-14 Age Category:

1st Kerry-Anne Hamilton Whistler, BC 39.00

2nd Brittany Stefaroi Canmore, AB 33.00

3rd Meghan Gunning Calgary, CB 32.67

Female 15-18 Age Category:

1st Erin Kerr Whistler, BC 38.33

2nd Tamara Stefaroi Canmore, AB 37.00

3rd Kara Fitzgerald Sagle, ID 36.00

Male 12-14 Age Category:

1st Brodie Evans Rossland, BC 51.00

2nd Todd Loukras Rossland, BC 47.33

3rd Keegan Capel Banff, AB 45.00

Male 15-18 Age Category:

1st Phil Hudec Vancouver, BC 58.00

2nd Dane Tudor-Olds Rossland, BC 57.67

3rd North Parker Sumner, WA 57.33

The Open competition for Seniors nineteen years and older kicks off this Thursday January 11th on Link’s Line followed by the semi-finals Friday and finals on Saturday on Mount Roberts.

For registration forms and more event information, please visit www.canadianfreeskiing.com or phone Red Mountain Resort at (800) 663-0105.

Canadian Freeskiing Open Championships - Ledcor Sponsorship

J Dogg — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:40:00 -0500

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It's almost that time of year - many shredders' favourite Freeskiing comp will kick off the competition season in a few weeks time. Here's the release & details about the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships and the new sponsor...

Ledcor Group of Companies is partnering with Red Mountain Resort to present the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships, Canada’s biggest and longest running Big Mountain competition. From January 6-14th over 100 of the world’s best freeskiiers will test their mettle on one of the toughest venues on the freeskiing circuit, Mt. Roberts, battling for a $10,000 cash purse.

A global construction company, Ledcor is presently working in the community of Rossland at Red’s condominium project “Slalom Creek”. As a general principle, Ledcor supports the community by providing local opportunities through employment and supplier contracts. James Sharko, Vice President of the Ledcor Kelowna Building Division says “We are very pleased to be sponsoring the ski event as part of the Ledcor culture in supporting the communities we operate in.”

From erecting a community centre in an isolated northern BC town to making a much needed donation to a local food bank or building a specialized playground for a children’s hospice, Ledcor displays a wide range of community support through various donations and sponsorships. In addition, Ledcor has been a strong supporter of the United Way, last year achieving the “Decade of Excellence” Award. “We are ecstatic to have Ledcor as Presenting Sponsor for this world-class event”, states Erik Kalacis, Red Mountain Resort’s Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. “Not only will Ledcor help elevate the production values of the event, their support marks the first major step in evolving the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship into a major multi-discipline competition. It is our intention to add other freeskiing disciplines to this competition in the future.”

The format of the competition will follow the International Free Skiers Association’s (IFSA) Big Mountain Freeskiing guidelines. Participating athletes will be judged on line choice, fluidity, technique, aggression and control. The IFSA recognizes the Canadian Open Freeskiing Championship as “a pinnacle in North American competitive freeskiing”. Top finishers at Red will be eligible for the IFSA World Tour Pre-Qualified List.

Jeff Holden, head judge of the competition last year, returns to lead his team of judges for another year. Captain Jack Carey returns as Chief of Competition. Registration for the Open event is limited to skiers 19 years and older. On January 11th contestants will begin qualifications on Red’s most difficult in-bounds run, Link’s Line, to secure one of the 50 sought-after semifinal slots. Finalists will compete the following two days on the technical Mount Roberts, visible to spectators from Red’s Granite Mountain.

Event Schedule:

Saturday Jan. 6th, 2007 Junior Registration, Mandatory Meeting

Sunday Jan. 7th, 2007 Junior Competition, Ages 11-18, Link’s Line

Wednesday Jan. 10th, 2007 Open Registration, Mandatory Meeting 7pm

Thursday Jan. 11th, 2007 Open Qualifier, Ages 19+ only, Link’s Line

Friday Jan. 12th, 2007 Semi-Finals, Mount Roberts

Saturday Jan. 13th, 2007 Finals, Mount Roberts, Awards Ceremony

Sunday Jan. 14th, 2007 Weather Contingency Day

Back by popular demand, the Junior competition returns to Red for a second year for kids aged 11-18. Held on Link’s Line underneath the Motherlode Chair, youths will participate in a one-day event on January 7th. Skiers from as far away as Utah and Vermont have signed up to test their skills on some of the most challenging terrain in the region, pitting themselves against the newest “up and comers” from the Kootenays.

For registration forms and more event information, please visit www.canadianfreeskiing.com or phone Red Mountain Resort at (800) 663-0105.

BC Games at Red Mountain

J Dogg — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

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Beginning tomorrow, more than 1,400 of the province's top winter-sports athletes will converge on the greater Trail and Rossland area in southeastern British Columbia to compete in the 2006 BC Games scheduled for Thurs., Feb. 23, through Sun., Feb. 26.

Red Resort will host alpine events for the bi-annual competition, including the Slalom and Giant Slalom for 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls racing on Friday and Saturday on Red Mountain. Disabled skiers ages 13 to 30 will compete throughout the weekend on Red's alpine course. Opening ceremonies for the four-day competition are scheduled for Feb. 23 in Trail. "We're honored to share our challenging mountain terrain and warm local hospitality with all the participants and spectators coming to Rossland for this year's games," said Jim Greene, Red's vice president of operations. "Hopefully, we'll discover one of Canada's next alpine superstars from this weekend's competition at Red."

Representing eight zones across British Columbia, the 2006 BC Winter Games will feature more than 1,400 athletes, 351 coaches and 209 technical officials, not to mention the hundreds of volunteers who will help coordinate and manage all event activities. As the province's largest winter multi-sport event and showcase of athleticism, the BC Winter Games inspire young athletes to pursue their athletic dreams. Athletes compete in 23 sport events, including the classic winter sports of alpine and cross-country skiing, speed skating, hockey and figure skating. Note from Doglotion: Who knows, maybe with the right practice, Canadian Men's hockey players will be able to win Olympic medals again. Eh eh? Ouch.

All BC Winter Games events are free and open to the public. More information at www.redresort.com and www.bcgames.org.

Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge 2004

J Dogg — Thu, 05 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500

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Raw freeskiing at the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Championships

"If there's a Doctor in the building, please report to the Smoke Eaters dressing room".

Come again? The disturbingly funny but true quote echoed from the loud speakers in Trail BC's Cominco Arena. If there's a Doctor?!? At a minor hockey league game between metal refining Trail teenagers and our favourite logging metropolis of Prince George, BC, you'd think Dr.'s would outnumber score-keepers. Guess not, eh hoser? Pass me another beer. Hey, is that my tooth over there?

But the Smoke Eaters kept their cool while their injured players stitched themselves up (I guess), and went on to win 5-4 in regulation time. After the game, while we were getting mooned by local Trail girls in the arena parking lot, the rest of the freeskiing community was in nearby Rossland getting their beauty sleep before another day of competition at Red Mtn.

The 3rd Annual Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge was held at Red Mountain this Jan 14-18, to once again share their freeskiing microcosm with the world. And the Doglotion.com crew had once again joined the convoy of trucks, cars, and campers from Whistler, all coming to Red Mountain to enjoy the WWF Smackdown of ski competitions; freeskiing in it's rawest form.

The textbook definition of 'Little Areas that Rock', Red Mountain has been 'keeping freeskiing real' since the turn of the century, before they had even built their first chairlift in '47. (Read their history). Every year us Whistlerites come to Red for the Freeskiing Challenge, but we're always torn between the competition action and the urge to explore and freeski all over the resort's killer terrain.

This year was no exception. While the competition went off and skiers showcased their freeskiing on Lynx line and Roberts, spectators and competitors alike couldn't help but play hooky now and again to explore Red's terrain. Crawling through mining shafts, finding log grinds in the woods, high-speed chases through the tight gullies, and hiking nearby ridges all kept everyone from taking the trip too seriously. Pure freeskiing.

Back to the Smackdown... the Freeskiing Challenge was well executed this year, despite a few foggy days that could have put a serious damper on the competition. The awesome mountain staff, patrols, and judges threw together some creative plans to pull off a qualifier and 2 competition runs for the women and men.

Day 1 of the competition was a slow going foggy qualifier, and only the women competitors were able to run. But Day 2 brought bluebird skies and a sweet day of competition. All the women and men charged down Lynx line in turn, Billy Goode dropped some jaws with his big backflip to kartwheels routines, and Moss Patterson skied solid and fast to earn the high score of the day.

The fog was back with a vengeance for the final Day, but like we said, the event staff got creative and managed to run a smooth and injury free day of competition. Judges and a few spectators spaced themselves along the course on Mt Roberts to watch the remaining 7 women and 26 men compete for a mighty fine prize purse courtesy of Molson Canadian.

In the mens division, Peter Velisek stomped all his airs cleanly and fluidly to earn the high score of the day and third overall. But Red-Mountain-raised James Heim edged him out for 2nd place, and crowd favourite Moss Patterson skied another solid run to keep 1st place postition; becoming the winner of the 2004 Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge, and leaving $5000 richer!

Sarah Oakden from Fernie skied the women's line of the day, but ended up placing 3rd overall, just shy of Vikki Cole from Whistler and Kit Deslauriers from Jackson Hole, who tied for first! We thought there might be a mud/jello tug-o-war contest for the giant prize cheque they had to share, but hey, this isn't a Smoke Eaters game.

Props to all the mountain staff, patrols, judges and event organizers who successfully ran another awesome freeskiing competition at Red Mountain! Event organizer Jack Carey really knows how to party, Jeff Holden and his team of judges did an awesome job to keep the comp running smoothly through bad weather, Mountain Manager Jim Green was proud to be hosting the event, and Lucie Fortier of Red Mountain oversaw the whole thing from start to finish. And of course, cheers to Molson Canadian and the supporting sponsors.

Click Here to View the VIDEO

PS - Big Buck Hunter rules.

Competitor Tobin Seagel enjoying a quality round of Big Buck Hunter at the Rock Cut Pub. How 'bout the old-school ski vid on the TV in the background eh?

Molson Canadian Freeskiing Championships 2003

J Dogg — Fri, 04 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0500

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If Britney Spears were a freeskier, she'd live in Rossland, BC.

Well, uh, who knows what tickles Britney's fancy, but any skier lookin' for a good time should definitely hit Red Mountain sometime soon.

After last year's Freeskiing Challenge, rumours have been circulating around ski towns everywhere about Red Mountain... how sweet the terrain is, how deep the snow is, how empty it is... you name it. Next thing you know, most of the competitive freeskiiers in Whistler and the rest of the Pacific Northwest had packed their cars and B-lined it east for the 2003 Molson Canadian Freeskiing Championships.

We almost lost a few competitors along the pilgrimage, with at least 4 cars spinning out or crashing somewhere along the way, 1 being a total write off. But everyone made it alive... so many in fact that you'd think it was a stop on the World Tour of Freeskiing. Only difference... real prize money.

With packed powder and sunny skies, the qualifier was held on Lynx Line, right under the Motherlode chairlift. The day kicked off with a poach by a legendary 70-something year old guy who apparently skis Lynx Line every day, every run. Tryin' to make us look bad I guess. All the competitors skied hard and did their best to strut their freeskiing steez on this mellow but featured run, but only a few advanced. There were so many prequalified athletes in attendance that only the top 10 men and top 4 women made the cut to the competition. Another 5 guys were placed in the 'bubble', and would be allowed to compete if time allowed.

Day one of the competition went off on Mt Roberts; a sweet backcountry peak beside the Red Mountain resort. With its unreal amount of steeps, drops, gullies, ridges, and other terrain features to play with, Roberts makes for an awesome venue. Holding a freeskiing competition on this peak is like feeding chocolate doughnuts to a baby... the outcome is unknown, things will get outta control, and someone's gonna have a lot of fun.

All the competitors charged hard on day one, but you could tell Mt Roberts was out to punish most of the competitors. The run was so long that more than a few competitors were beggin' for Mommy towards the end of the run, but overall the level of skiing was high all day. Whistler's PY Leblanc skied a super solid line to score 1st position for day one, followed by Geoff Small from NZ and Guerlain Chicerit of France. Highlights included Daisuke Sasaki's retarded airs to flat landings, and Bob Kitchen emerging from the 5 person qualifier 'bubble' to ski a really strong line.

But then came Day 2. Hands down one of the most entertaining competitions in a long time. When Day 1 competitors Ian MacIntosh and Chris Mansbridge hooked up a microphone and some heavy metal, we knew good times were ahead. Skiers were givin'er all day, the carnage ensued, and the announcers weren't letting them off easy. Mathieu Imbert of France won DOGLOTION.com's vote for the Sillygoat Award (if there was won), by losing his ski half way down the run and continuing to rip the run on one ski, finishing with a tricky 1 ski straighline. Leif Zapf-Gilje pulled off the world's first backflip-to-phone-grab, one of those 'ya had to be there' kind of things. After losing his ski while landing a sweet backflip, Leif actually answered a call on his cell from announcer Chris Mansbridge who had called to joke about the lost ski. Doesn't get much better than that.

Moss Patterson scored the highest for Day 2, with a huge air at the top followed by some aggressive skiing and a laid out backflip at the bottom. Brett Crabtree skied the 2nd best line with fast, fluid skiing, followed by Eric Schmitz with his fast skiing and creative airs.

But nobody could catch up to Geoff Small who came 1st overall, followed by Eric Schmitz in 2nd and Moss Patterson in 3rd.

The ladies were chargin' it on Roberts as well. DOGLOTION team rider Marja Persson was leading after the first day, with AJ Cargill and Kim McKnight close behind. AJ skied a sweeeeet line on Day 2, but couldn't quite hold it together. Whistler ripper Karla Rizzuto scored 3rd for the day but it wasn't quite enough to bump her onto the podium. Lynsey Dyer of Montana skied the highest scoring line of the day, earning her 1st overall, bumping Marja to 2nd, and Kim McKnight held onto 3rd.

Pretty much everyone was stoked on the competition. The 2003 Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge went off without a hitch, the sun shone all week, and Mt Roberts showed us all who's boss.

But it wouldn't be a Rossland trip without a little extra curricular activity. Red Mountain is full of natural and unnatural obstacles to play with... old mining tunnels weaving through the mountain's innards, rock quarries providing an amphitheatre of double drops, and an abandoned industrial building that makes for some quality billygoating.

Meanwhile, the hilly town of Rossland is an urban playground for jibbers alike, with roofs, rails, and roadgaps just askin' to be hit. Only in Rossland can you slide rails in a stranger's yard... late at night, without permission... while that stranger casually watches you from their window above. That part might worry Britney, but it was all good with us.

Check out the VIDEO. (Sorry, video currently offline, back soon hopefully).

Maintaining the Vibe

J Dogg — Mon, 25 Feb 2002 00:00:00 -0500

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Maintaining the Vibe at the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge 2002

The DOGLOTION.com crew showed up at Rossland BC in a staggered convoy of cars and trucks full of skiers and gear, eager for the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge. Seemed like everyone and their dog had made the 10 hour pilgrimage from Whistler to Rossland, and no cheap motels were to be found. So we headed further east to the zinc-refining jewel they call Trail, BC, where our tracks led us to the seedy Crown Point Hotel. Our instant dizziness might have been from the fumes drifting through town, but we were convinced the walls and hallways were slanted just enough to make anyone queasy upon arrival.

After a night's sleep on the flea infested shag carpet floor, the convoys reassembled and we headed to a better place. On the way to Red Mountain, we couldn't help but ride the brakes as we rolled through the neighbouring town of Rossland, BC, where funky little shops and restaurants are surrounded by an endless playground of urban jibbing potential. Our shag carpet nightmares were soon a thing of the past, and the stoke factor was riding high.

At the mountain we hooked up with local ripper and snow-phone star Stefan Hood, who let us tag along for a fast-track tour of Red's sick terrain. The pea soup visibility was working against us all day, making the high tree line a key ingredient for good times. The Jedi knight scene was on all our minds as us Whistler boys tried to rail our big mountain skis through Red's notoriously tight trees. We bagged gullies, straight-lines, log slides, pillows and wicked tree runs all over the mountain, blindly led through the fog by Stefan's 'local' sensors. Below is Bob Kitchen making the most of the mountain, with style.

The next day brought bluebird skies and wicked scouting conditions for the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge. 150 competitors showed up from around North America to compete in the Challenge, and the vibe of enthusiasm and excitement was unreal. Everyone dialed their lines for the Lynx line qualifier and the Mt Roberts final venue, only to be ambushed by Mother Nature on Day 1 of the Challenge. The women finished their runs, but Red's notorious mid-mountain fog forced event organizers to postpone the men's heat, using up their weather day right off the bat.

Day 2 of the Challenge turned out just as nasty, but the quick thinking organizers and mountain staff managed to pull off mogul/GS race from the top of Cliff's dive. It was far from ideal for anti-gate-bashing freeskiers, but nobody complained and the positive vibe held strong. Local boy James Heim nailed the fastest time of the day to win the qualifier.

Yet Mother Nature continued to tamper with conditions, forcing both final days of competition to be held on Lynx line under the chair. P-Y Leblanc smoked the competition in the semi's, only to take a roller in the finals for a third place finish. Caleb Martin from Telluride had really solid runs both days, and came home $5000 richer by winning the men's category. Local speed demon James Heim managed to bump up to 2nd place overall with his solid display of how it's done Red Mountain style. Ingrid Backstrom won the women's category, followed by Jen Ashton and Stephanie Gauvin.

The coolest part about the whole Challenge is how stoked everyone was, regardless of the lame weather and venues. The organizers did a killer job of pulling off a comp that was doomed by mother nature; local skiers were ecstatic to have all the competitors trample their hill; competitors charged hard everyday; and everyone strutted their stuff at apres and the after parties. All that combined with epic freeskiing sessions and side events like the Extreme Springboard Championships made the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge a huge success overall. If Mother Nature is a little nicer next time, this could be standout competition on the schedule for sure. Check it out next year if you missed the action this season. If you did come out this year, you already know how much potential is brewing in the Molson Canadian Freeskiing Challenge.