The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Action in Andorra and Aspen
The Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team (CBMST) sent CBCS senior Brittany Barefield to Andorra last week, where she represented the USA and Crested Butte at the Freeride World Junior Championships. After a weather day, the action was set to go off on the Pic Alt Del Cubil at the Grandvalira. Barefield had a great run, earning fourth out of 13 and the second-highest American score behind the Altabird Freeride athlete Jacqueline Pollard, who took first. You can watch the run on westelkproject.com.
“Brittany’s run displayed arcing turns and a lot of fun, controlled airs. She was first out the gate, setting the tone for the women’s ski division, and put up a 75.00 that held up as a very strong result on the international stage,” says Brittany’s CBMST coach Will Dujardin.
A big thanks goes out the Sugar Bowl Freeride Team coach, Trevor Tanhoff and Altabird Freeride coach Steven Helfenbein for coaching the American athletes in Andorra.
While all this was going on, the Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team was in action at the IFSA Regional event in Aspen on Aspen Mountain Saturday and Sunday with 10 junior athletes. Dagan Schwartz represented in the 12-14 Male Snowboard division, Ella Haverkampf in the U12 female ski and Brooks Hudson, Jackson Warner and Gus Bullock in the U12 male ski. Emma Patterson competed in the 15-18 female ski age class as Matthew Harper-Johnston, Noah Buehler, Conrad Truettner and Oz Scott threw down in the 15-18 male ski division.
Thanks to this warm winter, the competition was moved from Aspen Highlands to Aspen Mountain. While the day one “Walsh’s” venue was very short, the snow was decent and offered a jump at the end where many CBMST team members spun 360s or added a little grab or shifty.
The venue moved to the “Silver Queen” for finals—a venue last used for FIS GS Roch Cup in the 1950s and that sits next to the active Compromise Mine on Ajax. After all was said and done, the CBMST was able to walk away with five podiums, including two victories. Dagan, Ella, and Gus were all able to take second while Emma Patterson and Brooks Hudson took first in their respective divisions. Oz Scott and Conrad Truettner had strong top-10 results in a huge 68-participant 15-18 male field with seventh and ninth, respectively.
The CBMST looks to keep the ball rolling at the IFSA double National/Regional event next week at Taos Ski Valley, N.M. Due to low snow, the upcoming IFSA Regional scheduled for this weekend at CBMR had to be postponed until sufficient venues can exist.
