Flathead Freeride Club athletes compete at National IFSA event in Alaska
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 3 weeks, 4 days AGO
The Flathead Freeride Club members competed at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, on March 3-5. (Photo provided)
The Flathead Freeride Club members competed at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, on March 3-5. (Photo provided)
The Flathead Freeride Club members competed at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, on March 3-5. (Photo provided)
Athletes from the Flathead Freeride Club competed in a prestigious national freeride ski competition March 3 - 5 at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska. The event, sanctioned by the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA), brought together some of the top junior freeride skiers from across the country to test their skills on the challenging terrain of Mount Alyeska.
Representing Northwest Montana, the Flathead Freeride Club athletes competed on steep, technical lines featuring cliffs, chutes and variable snow conditions that demanded decision-making, control and creativity. As part of the IFSA junior freeride competition circuit, the event provides young athletes the opportunity to compete at a high level while gaining valuable experience on big mountain terrain.
Flathead Freeride Club athletes delivered strong performances at the national event. Louis Groom earned an impressive second place overall finish in the U15 men’s ski category, showcasing confident line choice and control on Alyeska’s demanding terrain. Kyle Smith also had a strong showing, finishing ninth in the U19 men’s ski category against a competitive national field.
“Traveling to compete in Alaska is an incredible experience for these athletes,” said Hannah May of the Flathead Freeride Club. “They put in a tremendous amount of work all season, and this event allows them to challenge themselves against top competitors from around the country while skiing truly world-class terrain.”
The team will compete in a regional IFSA event March 14 and 15 at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho. That event is one of the final opportunities for athletes to earn points before the season culminates at the IFSA Junior Freeride Championships, scheduled for April 4–8 at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, British Columbia.
The Flathead Freeride Club members competed at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, on March 3-5. (Photo provided)
The Flathead Freeride Club members competed at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, on March 3-5. (Photo provided)
The Flathead Freeride Club members competed at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, on March 3-5. (Photo provided)