WSC Freeride Ski Team Finishes Competitive Season in Snowbird

According to Coach Eric Freson, the event had the highest level of competition that the team had seen yet on the freeskiing circuit.

“There were around 150 competitors, with the top professionals in the world competing in this event,” Freson said. “Considering the athletes who were there, our team did well.”

Among the WSC skiers who competed in the event were: Freson, Ciera Glenn, Kaytlin Hughes, Jason Holton, Mark Mikos, Sam Degenhard and Scott Ryan. Ryan and Mikos made it through day one of the competition and advanced to day two.

“This was a competition where the skiers had to execute perfectly in order to advance,” Freson said. “You had to ski the run of your life to place well.” 

Freson noted that the WSC freeride team was the only collegiate them competing in the circuit this winter. He also believes that the WSC team is the only of its kind to compete in such events. The team competed in events in Crested Butte, Snowmass, Telluride, and Taos, New Mexico.

At the top of the team’s accomplishments this season was a third-place finish by Hughes in the Colorado Freeride Championships in Snowmass.

In addition to participating in the competitive freeskiing circuit, the team has organized other events bringing the WSC skiing and snowboarding community together. The team’s main on-campus event this year was the College Center Campus Jam, which attracted more than 20 participants and 100 spectators.

Freson has high hopes for the WSC freeride ski team.

“We’ve been receiving a lot of publicity and support from event coordinators, as well as other competitors and their coaches,” he said. “It’s great to see and I think we’ll be experiencing more growth in the next few seasons.”