By HOLLY WALKER

Skiercross

I left Whistler before the big storms hit. 40 cms in one day. I was doubtful, especially when Ryan, Mike and Elsa arrived to Salt Lake City with smiles, stories and pictures to back it up. But Snowbird had its own pounding, a little every day to keep the skiercross course workers busy.

On Wednesday, February 1st the "2006 Snowbird US Skiercross and Freeskiing Nationals" kicked-off with local Whistler boy Davie Barr taking 1st place in the skiercross.

View the RESULTS on the event website.

Big Mountain Qualifier

Thursday, February 2nd the road to Snowbird closed at 10am. Too much snow but the Qualifier for the US Freeskiing Nationals proceeded. Competitors who had made it to 'the Bird' before the road closure competed first on the newly decided Tower 3 venue. The venue changed from West Baldy due to poor visibility and competitors were lucky if they had the chance to inspect. Not long after the road opened at 11am did the rest of the athletes fill the parking lots, ready to throw down for the crowd and the judges.

This year's IFSA Head Judge Jim Jack headed the judging panel, consisting of Jeff Holden, Linda Peterson, Eric "The Rubberman" Schmitz, and Brant Moles. After the scores were added up, a big cut was made. The top 15 of 24 women and top 38 of 81 men were
selected to join the World Tour prequalified athletes in Friday's Day #1 of the US Freeskiing Nationals. Snowbird local's dominated, using their local knowledge of the terrain.

It continues to snow at Snowbird. Stay tuned for results and weather updates from today's Day 1 of the US Freeskiing Nationals, Stop #1 on the IFSA World Tour.

Qualifier Results

Female
1 Suzzane Graham 102 Snowbird USA 28
2 Alaina Huestis 78 Snowbird USA 23.8
3 Molly Baker 70 Alta/Snowbird USA 23.6
3 Grace Rich 84 Snowbird USA 23.6
5 Stacy Cash 107 Snowbird USA 22.4
6 Kira Kitchens 68 Snowbird USA 22
7 Annie Hutchins 14 Snowbird USA 20.8
7 Andria Huskinson 76 Alta USA 20.8
9 Emily Teague 17 Telluride USA 20.2
9 Phillipa Hunt 85 Crested Butte USA 20.2
9 Tamara Guttman 111 Telluride USA 20.2
12 Sarah Hornes 67 Whistler CAN 20
12 Nancy Elrod 74 Squaw USA 20
14 Sarah Light 97 Fernie CAN 19.4
15 Lindsey MacIntire 105 Alta USA 19
CUTOFF
16 Julie Conard 38 Snowbird USA 17.4
16 Megan Weider 52 Alta USA 17.4
16 Marcie Hahn 110 Snowbird USA 17.4
19 Zoe Jaboor 40 Mt Buller, Australia USA 16.8
20 Jamie Britt 20 Snowmass USA 14.8
21 Martha Burley 99 AUS 10.8
22 Nicole Roberson 39 Mammoth Mountain USA 10.4
23 Alexis Bennett 36 Vail USA DNF
24 Vicky Bogner 12 Aspen USA DNF

Male
1 Kevin O'Meara 69 Squaw Valley USA 31
2 Tres Zaglool 81 AltaBird USA 30.2
3 Griffin Post 27 Sun Valley USA 29.2
4 Tyson Bolduc 62 Vail USA 29
5 Jack Nelson 72 Snowbird/Park City USA 28.8
6 Adam Barker 33 Solitude USA 27.8
6 Nick Devore 61 USA 27.8
6 Steve Bedford 63 Alta/Snowbird USA 27.8
6 E.J. Poplawski 73 Alta USA 27.8
6 Chris Paulding 101 Park City USA 27.8
11 Tyler Knoles 109 Alta USA 27.6
12 Matthew Burton 46 Snowbird USA 27.4
12 Jesse Bryan 94 Snowbird USA 27.4
14 Brady Newton 28 Snowbird USA 27.2
14 Craig DiPietro 112 Alta USA 27.2
14 Erich Kunz 53 The Summit at Snoqualmie USA 27.2
17 Julian Carr 103 USA 27
18 Kyle Sul 45 Crested Butte USA 26.6
19 Jason Bruce 45 26.4
21 Kevin Tocke 15 USA 26.2
21 Monty Goldman 24 USA 26.2
23 Daryl Treadway 19 Whistler CAN 25.8
23 Dex Mills 65 Snowbird USA 25.8
23 Frank Fazzino 57 Mammoth USA 25.8
23 Mike Meza 115 Park City USA 25.8
27 Clint Butler 41 Ak Backcounrty USA 25.6
27 Carlo Travarelli 60 Snowbird USA 25.6
27 Jake Cohn 51 Telluride USA 25.6
30 Jake Rothfels 42 Snowbird USA 25.2
31 Justin Schenkel 54 Big Sky USA 25
31 Josh Sadaj 83 Moonlight Basin, MT USA 25
31 Daryn Edmunds 50 Snowbird / Alta USA 25
34 Rich Webb 22 Alta USA 24.8
35 Drew Stoecklein 80 Alta USA 24.6
36 Lloyd Tucker 23 Aspen/Snowmass USA 24.4
36 Erik Lundstrom 48 Sundsvall Sweden, 24.4
36 Eon Jarvis 95 Snowbird USA 24.4

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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.