Eight members of the Panorama Mountain Freeride Club (PMFC) had a great showing at the Jeep Freeski Competition last week at Kimberley Alpine Resort, with a total of five top five finishes out of a sold out event of 101 skiers.  Competitors ranged in age from seven to 18 years of age.

Brian Burnyeat, Birken Kirk, Thomas O’ Sullivan and Nat McGrath from PMFC competed and all did very well in their respective age categories.

Kaleigh Meadus of Windermere, skiing for Canadian Alpine Adventures, also competed and placed fifth in the girls 7-11 category.  Four out of the five aged  7-11 girls in the top five were local.  Emmet Strange of Fairmont Hot Springs, who skis with the Fernie Freestyle team, also participated.

Freeski or Big Mountain Competitions take place on very steep aspects of the mountain with a number of features including cliffs, hits and natural features.  Events are sanctioned by the International Freeskiskiers and Snowboarder’s Association (IFSA).  Skiers are judged on the line they choose, their energy level, technical skiing, fluidity and the tricks they pull on the features.

“It pretty much covers the entire gamut of technical skiing and is a true measure of all skiing skills,” said Dave McGrath, PMFC program director.

Event coordinator Jeff Holden and former champion freeskier tells competitors, “in freeskiing, you’re not competing as much as you are out there celebrating the art of skiing!”

PMFC  results:

Lead image: Back L-R;  Parker McGrath, Dave McGrath, Birken Kirk, Mike Meadus; Middle L-R;  Olivia Gibson, Raina Schnerch, Kaleigh Meadus, Madison Amy, Nat McGrath; Front L-R; Sol Kirk, Thomas Burnyeat, Brian Burnyeat, Zoe McGrath.

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