Official Highlights of the 2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Championships
A beautiful bluebird day at Snowbird made for an eye-popping Day One with a stacked list of 26 women and 73 men. The competition went off on Silver Fox with pristine conditions enabling the athletes to take it to the next level; the top 11 men garnered scores of 40 or higher.“Today, weather and snow conditions provided for a high energy event,” said Head Judge Jim Jack. “I knew that with the conditions and ski-level in the field, we were gonna see fast, fluid dynamics on the venue features. The level of athleticism is so high, it was hard to separate a field of athletes of this caliber.”
Already clinching the 2011 Women’s Overall Tour Champion spot, local Angel Collinson took first in the qualifier today with a 36.30. In second place was Ashley Maxfield, who currently sits in second place overall with a 35.57, and in third was Jackson Hole’s Crystal Wright.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to ski, so I took a technical line over the smoke stacked doubles and landed it; and I arched some turns through the trees,” said Angel Collinson. “It was simple and a bit slower than usual because of my back, but I want to step it up more tomorrow. I was trying to listen to my body today, and luckily I was able to push through; I’m very excited for the results.”
In first place for the men with an impressive 46.10, was the ‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’ Drew Tabke, who sits second in overall points; Drew hit frenchie rock and stomped it, did a big mute grab towards the middle, hit the transferred air across north chute and hit the money booter with a 360 mute grab. With overall 2011 points leader Lars Chickering-Ayers taking a tumble early in his run, taking him out of the Finals, Tabke could take the overall win. In second place was Chile’s Chopo Diaz, with a 43.87, and Squaw Valley’s Kevin O’Meara sits in third with a 43.37.
“I’m very happy with today’s results because the level of skiing has been so high, everyone is doing an awesome job,” said Drew Tabke. “I was intending to ski a bit more conservatively with the McConkey Cup in mind, but I’m very excited for tomorrow.”
10 women and 35 men will move onto the Finals tomorrow morning on North Baldy beginning at 10:30 a.m. PST, with six women and 12 men moving onto the Superfinals.
Competition Director Bryan Barlow promised it would be “the greatest show on snow.” Tune in tomorrow to www.freeskiingworldtour.com to watch the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour Championships go down LIVE beginning at 10:30 a.m.