Freeski Athletes Step Up to the Challenge at the IFSA Junior Freeride Championships
Last week, SSWSC Freeskiers took to Breckenridge Resort for the 2024 IFSA Junior Freeride Championships. The top 8% of athletes from the US, Canada, and South America (for the first time ever) competed for the gold and overall IFSA standings. Ellie Reynolds, Mason Stewart, and Oscar Dalzell earned the invitation to the Championships based on their results throughout the season.

On Thursday, the U15 skiers competed in the qualifiers at the Serenity Bowl venue. Mason and Oscar both opted for the Palisade Cliffs entrance and followed it up with big cross-court airs. On the huge bottom feature, Oscar stomped it clean and rode to the finish line with a big smile. Mason took the bottom air massively but washed out on the landing and lost his ski. Oscar made the cut for finals, coming in at 24th for the day.

On Friday, the U19 age group took to the same venue. Ellie Reynolds powered down the venue with her signature smooth and clean style, taking every opportunity to get air she could. Strong skiing, big airs, and smooth style brought her to finals, coming in at 11th.

On Saturday, the finals took place in the gnarly Six Senses zone. Oscar was the second athlete of the day to drop in and was greeted to pristine north-facing conditions. A technical drop-in followed up with an air into the main chute started his run, and a giant cross-court sender finished it. Oscar rode his way into 14th at the comp and 36th overall in the U15 male skiers.
Ellie Reynolds opted for the trickiest entrance on the venue, through the tightest chute, to enter a hanging snowfield. Landing the drop, she was caught up by a snow snake, which sent her on a bit of a slide. Ellie finished the season in 20th overall.

Photos are of Coach Dayton and Ellie at the top of the Six Senses venue.