The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“It’s going to be a steep, technical event this year”
Nearly 100 telemark skiers are expected to drop into Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the 14th Annual U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Telemark Championships set for Thursday through Saturday, March 18-20.
Every year, the competition ramps up in talent from the juniors up through the adults and this year should be another showcase of the top telemark talent in the nation.
“The whole group has gone up in their ability to ski and the upper end has taken it up a notch over the last couple of years,” says veteran competition judge Ross Matlock.
Last year, locals Mackenzie Mailly and Colin MacMillan took the women’s and men’s titles, with Klara Wohlers taking the junior women’s title. Matlock believes current conditions could favor another home talent title.
“It’s going to be a steep, technical event this year,” says Matlock. “We’ve been in this position before and it tends to favor the locals. They know every stump and rock out there.”
Whereas deep snow opens the floodgates for freeheel hucking, the firm conditions on the mountain will demand a different style from competitors.
“It’s going to be feet-down on the snow skiing and test your ability to move through it quickly,” says Matlock. “It’s not going to be a hucking event, ski it.”
Organizers will meet with mountain operations on Thursday to make the final call on the venues for Friday and Saturday and announce it Thursday night at the competitor meeting in the Elevation Hotel Peaks Ballroom, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Athlete categories include Junior (14-17 year olds), Adult (18+), and Masters (40+) competing for more than $10,000 in total cash and prizes.
Friday, March 19 marks day one of telemark big mountain competition with the first competitors starting tentatively at 9:20 a.m. On Saturday, March 20 the free heeling continues with the finals again beginning tentatively at 9:20 a.m.
The judging crew of Matlock, Jeff Duke, Angie Hornbrook, Heather Featherman and Heather Talbot are on the job once again for the eighth year in a row, offering unparalleled consistency in scoring.
“I like what’s going on with our judging,” says Matlock.
Spectators are welcome at every competitive event. Venues are accessible to blue-level (intermediate) skiers and snowboarders, although a short hike may be required. For the safety of other skiers, courtesy rides to the venues cannot be offered.
For additional information or to register, visit www.skicb.com/telex or call (970) 349-2217.
