The Whitewater Freeride team had a fantastic showing at last weekend’s national level event competition at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden as three of the nine Whitewater athletes had podium finishes.
Jesse Thurston edged out Whistler’s Cole Alexander for top spot in the boys 12 to 14 category. Sam Kuch and Sam Woodward placed first and second, with Jeff Ashton just missing a podium finish in fourth place in the boys 15-18 division. Haley Cooke placed sixth in the girls 15 to 18 category.
Coach Pete Velisek said the team’s results were redemption after a challenging first competition of the season at Red Mountain in January. Team alumnus Trace Cooke joined them in Golden as a guest coach.
“It was awesome that Trace was there,” said Velisek. “All those kids respect him so much. They’ve skied so much together and they’re at similar levels.”
Velisek said the team had a chance to free ski a day prior which he thinks got them stoked for the competition.
“It’s really important to have someone who’s been a part of the program who has gone on furthering his ski goals within competition to come back and shred with them.”
The event, originally scheduled for Fernie Alpine Resort, was moved to the Golden ski hill at the last minute due to poor competition conditions. About 25 team members will be back at Kicking Horse for a regional level event this weekend, accompanied by coaches Velisek, Dano Slater and Peter Then.