The Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team is on the podium hunt at freeride events amidst a busy few weeks coming off of two consecutive double-event weekends in Taos, New Mexico and Winter Park, Colorado with an event here at home in Crested Butte this coming up this weekend!
Above photo: Brooks Hudson and Gus Bullock on top of the U12 podium at the second Winter Park Regional.
The boys hanging at the start in Taos.
Over the February 19th- 23rd, the CBMST was at Taos for a double event weekend with both and IFSA National and Regional on the docket. Conditions were ripping with a storm on the way that would put a serious hamper on being able to run the event due to visibility. Before the storm hit Oz Scott led the charge with a ripping run through the Stauffenberg Trib and Turbinator Chute on West Basin. He found himself in 4th going in to the finals in a 70+ 15-18 Male Ski field with Patrick Curvin and Matthew Harper-Johnston being able to make the cut in 28th and 34th. On the ladies side, Emma Patterson and Brittany Barefield were straddling the top 10 in 8th and 11th in a 22-strong 15-18 Female ski field. The storm came in hot on Saturday night dropping 11 inches and continuing into Monday. The results held as weather kept the competition from finishing.
The action continued in the fog and snow on Monday at the IFSA Regional on the only run that had any kind of visibility at Taos, upper Longhorn. With a couple small features and some moguls to deal with, the U12s were in action and Brooks Hudson and Gus Bullock got back on the podium after navigating the pea soup in first and second place, respectively. Brittany Barefield and Emma Patterson wanted in on the action taking second and third, respectively. Carson Hildebrandt had a solid 12th-place run in the 12-14 male ski category. Unfortunately, due to time constraints multiplied by the nagging visibility, the 15-18 Male Ski category was unable finish their runs. Three quarters of the field had their runs negated when the last 10 athletes couldn’t finish. The silver lining with weather days is that you get to ski pow!
Brittany Barefield and Emma Patterson on the 15-18 Female Ski Podium in 2nd and 3rd at the Taos Regional.
The CBMST rolled into another double event weekend over February 28th and March 1st, this time at Winter Park for 2 IFSA regionals where they continued the hot streak on the Chutes at Mary Jane and the Cirque. The action kicked off on the Chutes and Emma Patterson struck again, effectively maxing out her regional points with another 1st place after her Aspen finish a few weeks ago. Her brother, Jon Clay Patterson took second in the 12-14 Male Ski division with a high-energy run missing first by the tiniest of .07 margins in the Chutes and then won the Cirque event with a smooth and charging run by 1.5 margin. Proving his U12 regional domination, Brooks Hudson took first in both events with his teammate, Gus Bullock, hot on his tail in 3rd and 2nd over both days. The U12 mastery of the Cirque venue was evident as CBMST coach, Grant Spear, radioed up after their runs, “I’m speechless.” Patrick Curvin was able to grab two top tens with a 9th and then a 5th with fellow 15-18 ski male athletes Peter Hunt, Lane Griffin, and Matthew Harper-Johnston putting in solid performances. CBMST’s lone freeride snowboarder, Dagan Schwartz, put in great efforts in the 12-14 male division taking 4th place on both venues. Ella Haverkampf took 2nd and 1st over both days in the U12 female ski division with great fall line skiing while Owen Berv and Harper Smith opened up their competition experience with great runs. Local athletes Avery Bernholtz, Charlie Cox, and Turner Peterson tagged along with the team putting up solid results capped with Turner’s 3rd place finish as the youngest competitor in the 15-18 male ski category on the Cirque. Vail athletes and CBMST friends, Kevin Nichols went for the double win in the 15-18 male ski category with his brother Jack taking 3rd and 2nd in both events as well.
The heart of the season carries on to an IFSA national on home turf this weekend here at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. With all the new snow this event is going to go off in a big way, so get out there and support your local athletes! The CBMST will be out in full effect and hope to carry some momentum from last year!
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