Local athletes compete in USSA Snowmass slopestyle

“The competition was stiff”

Aaron Blunck led the Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team at the USSA slopestyle event in Snowmass on Sunday, January 4 with a couple of top-five finishes in his age class.

Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team freeride coach Cody Price took Blunck, his brother Nolan Blunck, Matt Evans and Jesse Reeves to Snowmass for their first competition of the season.
It was a stacked field at the USSA-sanctioned event, with athletes from throughout Colorado descending upon the Snowmass course to compete.
“The competition was stiff,” says Price. “Kids are really stepping it up at a young age. Really impressive stuff.”
With limited training for the local athletes, Price reminded the team of their focus at the Snowmass event.
“We haven’t really got in much practicing,” says Price. “I told them that it was going to be practicing for us and that we’ll just have to catch up.”
As a result, Price used the weekend to continue the athletes’ training.
“I was able to focus on what things need to be worked on,” explains Price, “a lot of the fundamentals of jumping.”
Aaron put together two solid runs to post a third- and fourth-place finish. His teammates were not so fortunate, but Price still saw some positive aspects in their runs.
“Everybody had some jumps that are looking better and better,” says Price. “It’s hard to get things dialed right away.”
“They all skied really well,” adds mountain sports team freeride head coach Woody Lindenmeyr. “It was a great experience for them and they all had bright moments.”
Now with the terrain park and halpipe opening up on our local mountain, Price and Lindenmeyr are looking forward to furthering their athletes’ training there, as well as stepping up their big mountain—formerly known as extreme—skiing.
“Our athletes are really excited about the halfpipe opening and I’m really looking forward to taking some of the big mountain athletes out,” says Price.