These were the 3 days of the 10th annual U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships. On 4/3 the Comp was on Headwall, which retained a windpacked winter surface due to high altitude and north exposure. There were still many rocks due to below average March snow. Upper Paradise Bowl and most of the North Face also had dry snow, but much of it softened during this warm day. West-facing runs to the base had already been through a few melt/freezes and were in the best shape midday. Banana/Funnel was closed, but we did ski Peel in late afternoon. Adam found this kicker near the base.
4/4 had similar weather, and an early run on Spellbound/Phoenix had more variable snow than on 4/3. We skied 5 runs on the North Face, stopping a few times to check out the Competition. The Comp was on Staircase, where variable snow added to the challenge of steeps, rocks and trees.
Some competitors skied Slot Rocks.
4/5 had heavy overcast, with the base area and East River being the only areas with soft snow early on. We watched the entire Freeskiing finals on Spellbound/Phoenix.
Women's winner Jennifer Ashton in Dead End Chutes:
Overview of Dead End Chutes:
Aaron Estrada won the comp by straight-lining the lower 2/3 of the picture above.
More of a billy goat line with small air at the end:
As the snow softened in bony terrain, some of it began to slide.
This skier is on his way to Rabbit Ears.
Air from the notch between the Rabbit Ears:
The biggest crowd pleaser was "sickbird award" Brett Deuter, who hucked 40+ feet off the top of the right Rabbit Ear and skied away from the landing with only a broken ski pole for damages.
Enlarge the picture to see Deuter clearly with that dark rock background.
After the comp was over, we went back up the North Face and skied the Staircase area which had been the site of the previous day's competition.
4/4 had similar weather, and an early run on Spellbound/Phoenix had more variable snow than on 4/3. We skied 5 runs on the North Face, stopping a few times to check out the Competition. The Comp was on Staircase, where variable snow added to the challenge of steeps, rocks and trees.
Some competitors skied Slot Rocks.
4/5 had heavy overcast, with the base area and East River being the only areas with soft snow early on. We watched the entire Freeskiing finals on Spellbound/Phoenix.
Women's winner Jennifer Ashton in Dead End Chutes:
Overview of Dead End Chutes:
Aaron Estrada won the comp by straight-lining the lower 2/3 of the picture above.
More of a billy goat line with small air at the end:
As the snow softened in bony terrain, some of it began to slide.
This skier is on his way to Rabbit Ears.
Air from the notch between the Rabbit Ears:
The biggest crowd pleaser was "sickbird award" Brett Deuter, who hucked 40+ feet off the top of the right Rabbit Ear and skied away from the landing with only a broken ski pole for damages.
Enlarge the picture to see Deuter clearly with that dark rock background.
After the comp was over, we went back up the North Face and skied the Staircase area which had been the site of the previous day's competition.