Martha Burley, defending European Champion and last year's second place finisher, and Dede O'Mara, a top contender from Jackson Hole, both who had been delayed due to airline gridlock, were allowed to forerun the event. Local Ryan Davis raised the bar and reminded judges of what he could really do by hucking a 50-foot cliff as a forerunner.
Running the competitors in reverse order, the crowd got quite a show from the Red Bull Tent at the base of the High Traverse. The women led off the pack with some incredible runs. Shaun Raskin from Park City, Utah went bigger than a lot of the men by launching a 30-foot "diving board" rock into the runout below the wedge. It was, however, only good enough for fourth place.
“I like that the venue had something for everyone, and that it definitely kept you on your toes,” Raskin said.
Local standout Paige Brady also sent an aggressive line, airing over rocks and skiing confidently through exposure to win the women's contest.
The men demonstrated their version of a Blue Angels air show. Girdwood local Spencer Jonas started the trend by landing his enormous drop off the diving board. Paul Kimbrough from Mt. Baker, Washington solved his broken binding issue at the top by borrowing an event crew's skis. He then proceeded to throw a “tele heli” followed by a front flip to finish in third place, all with no poles on borrowed gear.
Rory Camm of New Zealand pieced together a series of cliff drops that made the rocky exposed line he charged look like a cakewalk for firth. Hailing from Fernie, British Columbia, Bayden Hamilton launched 40 feet, stomped his landing and came through the Red Bull arch to the appreciative crowd to finish in second place behind Anchorage local Corky Still.
Competitors were judged in five categories: line choice, fluidity, technique, aggressiveness and control. Each category was worth 10 points, but all categories revolve around the line score. If a competitor takes the easiest line and only scored a 3 for that line choice, then they can only receive two points higher in any other category.
There were also more subtle rules regarding "no fall zones" to keep competitors from overstepping their abilities. If an athlete skis into a "no fall zone" and then falls, their points are drastically docked. So competitors had to not only ski big lines and throw tricks with impeccable telemark technique but they also had to make good choices, ski in control and ski within their ability.
This week, attention will shift to alpine gear as Alyeska Resort hosts the 2009 Subaru Freeskiing World Championships.
WORLD TELEMARK FREESKIING CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL RESULTS
Women
1. Paige Brady - Anchorage, AK
2. Megan Michelson – Boulder, CO
3. Louise Sanseau - Jackson, WY
4. Shaun Raskin - Park City, UT
5. Lizet Christiansen - Tahoe City, CA
Men
1. Corky Still - Anchorage, AK
2. Bayden Hamilton - Fernie, BC Canada
3. Paul Kimbrough - Mt. Baker, WA
4. Ryan Leard - Oakland, CA
5. Rory Camm – New Zealand
