By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
High caliber adult freeride athletes will test their big mountain talents on two technical northside venues at Big Sky Resort on April 5 and 6.
On the first day, collegiate competitors will run upper Obsidian from the Dead Goat start, where patches of trees and cliff bands litter the steep slope making it is a “pretty awesome” venue according to Wallace Casper, director of the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation’s Freeride Program, which is hosting the event.
“We don’t expect to have any closures or anything … and with how filled in it is, it should be pretty sweet,” Casper told EBS in a phone call.
On the second day, a two-star Freeride World Tour qualifier event will take place on Three Forks along the Headwaters ridge. Casper said it’s essentially a second-tier qualifier event—still ambitious pros, but mostly those trying to reach the top qualifier events in future seasons.
“So that day, Sunday, is going to kind of be the heavy hitters,” he said. Both days are anticipated to begin around 10:30 or 11 a.m., and spectators will be able to see the action by riding Madison 8 and cruising into the Stillwater Bowl beneath Headwaters.
More than 250 total competitors signed up. Casper said they’ll be using a double judge panel to eliminate downtime, allowing one panel of judges to score a run while the other panel is watching the next run. This will mean near-constant action for spectators, making it “super cool” event to watch, Casper said.
On Saturday, 150 athletes will run through Obsidian—the biggest competition in BSSEF Freeride history, Casper said.
On Sunday, given the bigger venue and more sensitive terrain on Three Forks, the competition was limited to 90 competitors.
Sunday’s competition, open to all ages, will include a masters division for athletes aged 40-plus. Some BSSEF coaches will participate, too, giving their athletes some hometown talent to cheer for.
Casper is proud that proceeds from the event will support BSSEF’s Freeride program. Young athletes will be volunteering for the event, with various roles including “ninja” assistance: a critical, fast-paced job to help grab competitors’ gear if they fall, requiring quick response and knowledge of the terrain. Casper said BSSEF ninjas will help keep the event running smoothly.
“It’s going to be a fun time,” he said.
