The Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team started firing right out of the gate this competition season in the IFSA Junior Series with victories and strong results at Jackson Hole, Aspen, Winter Park, and Squaw Valley.
Above Photo: Jon Clay Patterson and Carson Hildebrandt go 1-2 in the 15-18 Ski Men at the Squaw Valley National.
As January and February competitions were postponed and cancelled across Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, most of the comp team made impromptu plans for the Jackson Hole Regional January 27-28. The trip paid off as Kye Matlock was able to take the victory in his first year in the 15-18 men ski division. He was joined in the top ten by Turner Petersen and Holden Bradford in 6th and 8th, respectively. Dagan Schwartz earned 2nd in 15-18 Snowboard men. Avery Bernholtz came away with 4th after a strong finals run in 15-18 Ski Women. In the younger 12-14 Ski Men, Nate Ball captured his first podium with 2nd place and Rowan Featherman was close behind in 4th. The team also got to ski and ride almost 2 feet of pow, which was has its benefits.
Darby Hamilton on top of the 15-18 Ski Women podium at Winter Park
Some members of the team took advantage some closer regionals as the snow picked up in Colorado in February. Jon Clay Patterson went over to Aspen with some teammates for a regional on the Highlands Bowl February 19 and he took the 1st place in the 15-18 Ski Men division. Just this past weekend, Darby Hamilton of Gunnison, in her first IFSA competition, won the 15-18 Ski Women division at a regional at Winter Park on the Chutes at Mary Jane.
The majority of the comp team used the CBCS winter break to head to Squaw Valley, California for their first IFSA National event of the season. Despite the Lake Tahoe region having a slow start similar to ours, Squaw Valley was able to use North Bowl and the Oly Lady as competition venues. Nine of 13 athletes were able to qualify for finals and the athletes lit it up, all sticking runs to their feet. Ella Haverkampf had the best run in the finals for 12-14 Ski Women to move up to 5th place. Avery Bernholtz put down 2nd best run in the 15-18 Ski Women finals to move up to 4th. Gus Bullock made headway moving up to 11th in finals with Rowan Featherman in 13th, who also earned an special mention from the judges for a creative line on day 1. Dagan Schwartz had an impressive showing for his first year in the 15-18 Snowboard Men division with 5th. The CBMST made their presence felt in the 15-18 Ski Men division with 4 top 10 finishes: Turner Petersen in 9th, Marko Alling in 7th, Carson Hildebrandt with an impressive 2nd, and Jon Clay Patterson lit up the venue to take first place.
The CBMST has an action-packed month ahead with events at Monarch, Snowbird, two at Breckenridge, Vail, and even Kappl, Austria. The team is hoping to build on the early season success to qualify for the IFSA North American Junior Freeride Championships and return to Snowbird in April.
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