Dusty Elsasser taking third in the U19 category at the El Colorado IFSA Junior Freeride skiing event. Courtesy photo

Grey Elsasser, Cullen McLean, and Dusty Elsasser discuss their runs at the venue observation area. Photo by Paula Knepper

Cullen McLean in the Red Bull sponsored start gate at El Colorado. Courtesy photo

BY PAULA KNEPPER

Four Northern New Mexico athletes recently made their mark on the international stage at a prestigious freeride skiing competition held in El Colorado, Chile, on July 26, 2025. Representing Los Alamos and Taos, these young skiers faced off against nearly 200 top competitors from across North and South America at an event hosted by the International Free Skiing Association (IFSA).

Local competitors included Ian McLean, a junior at Los Alamos High School (LAHS); Cullen McLean, a freshman at LAHS; Dusty Elsasser, a junior at Taos High School; and Grey Elsasser, a freshman at Taos High School. They traveled south for the IFSA Junior event at the El Colorado ski area, located just east of Santiago, Chile. El Colorado, along with the neighboring Parque Farellones (Tres Valles), is operated by Mountain Capital Partners—the same group that manages Pajarito Mountain Ski Area in Los Alamos.

Despite challenging snow conditions and steep, technical terrain, the New Mexico athletes delivered standout performances. Freeride skiing, which will debut as an Olympic event in 2030, is a judged sport where athletes are scored on line choice, style and energy, control, fluidity, and technique.

Cullen McLean earned a podium finish, taking third place in the under-15 category—missing second place by a razor-thin margin of just 0.10 points out of 100. In the highly competitive under-19 category, Dusty Elsasser also secured a third-place finish, followed closely by Ian McLean in sixth and Grey Elsasser in tenth. The field was packed with high-level skiers, including many Chilean locals familiar with the terrain. The scoring gap between the top six finishers was a mere 1.27 points, highlighting just how tight the competition was.

These impressive results are a testament to the dedication and talent of our local athletes—and a sign of big things to come for New Mexico freeride skiing.

Cullen McLean throwing a giant spread eagle racking up bonus style points. Courtesy photo

Ian McLean taking off from the Red Bull start gate with the Andes mountains and El Morado Glacier in the backdrop. Courtesy photo

Ian McLean going huge with a shifty grab on one of his many airs during his run on Saturday at El Colorado. Courtesy photo