Freeride team athletes and coaches taking a moment to soak up the morning sunshine are, from left, Ari Kolman, Andrea Krejci (Freeride head coach), Ava Wannamaker, Mora Campbell, Shaemus Campbell, Gray Elsasser, Ian McLean, Bryn Montano, Greta Schilling, Erica Cobb (coach), Cullen McLean, and Hank Scanlan. Photo by Chris McLean
Ian McLean poses on the podium earning 2nd place with his teammate Grey Elsasser in 1st place. Photo by Chris McLean
Ian McLean pleases the crowd and earns some style points at the finish line. Courtesy photo
BY PAULA KNEPPER
The Taos Winter Sports Team (TWST) traveled to their first International Free Skiers Association (IFSA) event of the season at Wolf Creek on Saturday (January 27). The field was nearly 100 ski and snowboard athletes competing in under 12 (U12), 12-14 (U15), or 15-18 (U19) age divisions.
Competitors loaded the lifts at 8 am under blue bird skies and headed for the Treasure lift to inspect the competition venue. The venue was perched on the top of Alberta Peak, which required the athletes’ hike to the start providing them with an ample warm up.
Bryn Montano and Greta Schilling were the first Taos competitors at the start. Bryn Montano skied a line which would most likely have put her on the podium but got grabbed by the “snowsnake” right before the finish. Greta Schilling earned a second place for U12 girls.
Taos athletes Ava Wannamaker, Ian McLean (9th grader Los Alamos High School), Grey Elsasser, Shaemus Campbell, Hank Scanlan, and Cullen McLean (7th grader Los Alamos Middle School) stacked the U15 age division. “Another athlete, Cullen McLean was grabbed by the sneaky snow snake and Shaemus Campbell sent it huge but did not stick his landing,” reported head coach Andrea Krejci.
In the U15 division, Taos boys Grey Elsasser earned a 1st place followed by Ian McLean in 2nd place, and Hank Scanlan in 12th place, and Ava Wannamaker earned a 6th place finish for the girls.
Two Taos athletes, Mora Campbell and Ari Kolman competed in the U19 division. Mora made her competition debut at Wolf Creek.
“We are so happy with the results from the first Freeride competition of the season! We knew our athletes were looking strong, but you never know how it will hold up compared to other teams. Having our U15 boys take 1st and 2nd sets a pretty good precedent for the rest of the season. It was also the first “real” Freeride competition ever for our U12 girls Greta Schilling who took 2nd and Bryn Montano, and U19 athlete Mara Campbell (finishing in 6th), and they showed everyone they are ready to take on more of these competitions. Ari Kolman who initially felt a bit disappointed by his run finished 5th in a strong field of U19 boys,” said Andrea Krejci following the day’s competition.