The Blackcomb Freestyle Club, facing the top athletes at the provincial and club level, came home with eight medals and a number of strong results from the 2002 Junior National Freestyle Ski Champions at Apex Mountain Resort near Penticton.
There were moguls, dual moguls, big air, halfpipe and aerials competitions for all three competitive groups, youth (13 and under), juveniles (14 and 15) and juniors (16 to 18).
"To qualify, the juveniles and juniors have to compete in at least two provincial competitions, and they need some good results there to make the cut, so it’s quite an accomplishment for them," says team vice-president, "driver and mom" Ann Britton.
Six members from the Blackcomb club qualified to compete.
Samantha Prest was fourth in dual moguls, fifth in single moguls, and fifth in halfpipe.
Eddie Hicks took silver in the single moguls and halfpipe, and bronze in the dual moguls and big air in the youth men’s category.
Keltie Hicks won gold in the youth ladies halfpipe, was fifth in dual moguls and fourth in big air.
Christina Otero won gold in the juvenile ladies big air, and was eighth in single moguls.
Adrienne Staley won gold in the junior ladies big air, silver in the halfpipe, was seventh in dual moguls and eighth in single moguls.
Andrew Clough didn’t win a medal, but finished fifth in the halfpipe, siventh in the big air and 12 th in single moguls. "Andrew competed against 25 other guys, and most of them are on provincial teams, so for him to ski this well against level of competition was amazing. He put on an incredible show," says Britton.
The season isn’t over yet for these athletes. The Blackcomb Freestyle Ski Club is hosting the 2002 B.C. Freestyle Ski Championships from April 5 to 7. The single moguls will be held on Davies Dervish on Apr. 5, the Big Air on Apr. 6 at the jump site behind Glacier Creek Lodge, and the dual moguls on Apr. 7 on the Dervish once again. The action starts at 10 a.m. each day.
