The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Second place at Snowbird seals top spot
Crested Butte skier and Western State Colorado University Mountain Sports Team athlete Francesca Ace Pavillard-Cain finished her season on top of the Freeride World Qualifier overall standings, earning a spot on the 2014 Freeride World Tour next winter.
Pavillard-Cain admits it wasn’t her goal at the start of the season but it soon became a possibility as she racked up numerous top finishes on the tour, including a win on her home mountain.
“I didn’t expect this to happen but after the comp in Crested Butte, I realized it was possible,” says Pavillard-Cain. “I’m super-stoked.”
She sealed the deal in the Subaru Freeride World Qualifier tour finals at Snowbird last weekend, finishing in second place to earn enough points for the overall title.
It was Pavillard-Cain’s third time competing at Snowbird but her first time on the podium. At her two previous competitions at Snowbird, she missed the final day cut and then made the finals but never the podium. The third time she was determined to reach two goals in one comp.
“I wanted to be on the podium and I wanted to take the first-place spot overall as well,” says Pavillard-Cain.
The first day of the two-day contest was held in an area called Silver Fox, one that suits Pavillard-Cain.
“I really liked the venue—it’s pretty steep,” says Pavillard-Cain.
She finished the day in fourth place and headed over to the North Face of Baldy the next day for a shot at the podium. After spring-like conditions on Silver Fox, competitors were met with a storm front brewing and faced windy and snowy conditions with spring snow at the bottom of the venue.
Pavillard-Cain didn’t mind the weather at all, gaining focus from the howling winds.
“I kind of like the wind—it shuts out all of the other noises,” explains Pavillard-Cain.
Her plan was simple. “I know the judges really like a fluid line so I wanted to keep it moving.”
Pavillard-Cain opened it up at the top of the venue, arcing huge turns through the open field before lining up a double air through an area called the Blond Rocks. She followed that up with the biggest air of all the women and most of the men off of “Squirrel Air.”
While Pavillard-Cain missed the top of her final double drop through the “Amphitheatre,” she managed to turn back into the gut and hit one last air to cruise to the finish line.
“I did get a little lost but I think it ended up working out,” says Pavillard-Cain.
Pavillard-Cain ended up with the highest score of the day, moving her from fourth place to second. Her finish at Snowbird was enough to put her at the top of the overall tour standings.
“It’s been an awesome season,” says Pavillard-Cain. “I’m done competing for the season and will just try to get some backcountry days in.”
She still has school to finish and plans on working toward her degree while saving money next fall. At that point, she plans on cutting back on classes to join the Freeride World Tour starting in January, and still graduating next May.
