VA FREESKI Water Ramp Camp, 6/11 from Chris Marks on Vimeo.

Nick Conklin, Jules Moore, Blake Bejan -- Lake Placid, 4 days, Vermont Academy Camp.

After another intense week of training, the Vermont Academy Freeski Team traveled to Whaleback Mountain for our second competition of the season to show what we’ve been working on. After dealing with adversity ranging from injury, equipment problems, and old men driving horse trailers, we arrived at the start area ready to throw down.  Though the competition was intense, we all stayed level headed and threw down our best runs.  After the judges made their decisions, these were the results: Blake’s switch-540 to 540 and great performance on the rails landed him a 3rd place finish. Jules' back flip to 540 with impressive skills on the rails got him a 5th place finish. Jordi's 360 safety grab and solid performance on the rails landed him in 17th place.  Tom, though injured in practice, competed and put out what his body would let him do, earning a 39th place finish. In the true spirit of the sport, all the teams got together and ended the day with a non-competitive rail and jump session on the stair-set and the 35 footer. The competition was, overall, a success for the team and we can’t wait for the next one.

On Wednesday, January 26th the Vermont Academy freestyle team -- coached by Chris Marks -- traveled to Loon Mountain for our first competition. After two cancellations due to snow and technical issues we were all prepared to show off countless hours of work to the judges and to other teams. It was a new experience for some riders on our team facing 48 other skiers from Proctor Academy, Holderness, KUA, and WMS on a challenging super park. That did not stop our Wildcat spirit and support for each other throughout the comp. Miller Charman finished his first freestyle competition placing 34th, hitting every feature on the difficult course. James Griffiths finished 29th, with a tremendous effort and determination. Jordi Pujol, all the way from Spain, finished in 26th showing off the new tricks he has been practicing on the VA ski hill and at our home Okemo Mountain. Thomas Savoca, a freestyle team veteran, placed 22nd amongst the 48 other competitors, also having a banger day. Jules Moore had a strong finish, placing 5th working on his recent tricks and focusing on his rail game. Finally, Blake Bejan, a young VA rider out of Seattle Washington, finished in 1st place, victorious over all the other riders. Stomping his runs with style and ease, Blake took the judges by surprise, and was rewarded with a first place score.  It was a great first competition, with amazing finishes and great runs from all of our athletes. We are all looking forward to bringing home another victory at our next comp at Whaleback.

VA  Freeski, Foiled Again? USASA Competition Debut

The Freeski team loaded up the bus on Wednesday, 1/19, to compete at Proctor's Slopestyle event at Ragged Mountain... we made it half way to the venue, but our competitive hunger was starved once again, with a last minute cancellation due to lift failure!  More opportunity to train. 

Blake Bejan and Jules Moore departed VA at first light on Saturday, 1/22, to compete in Mt. Snow's USASA slopestyle event.  The boys showed style and competitive prowess, finishing 4th and 5th, respectively, in the 16-18 yr old division.

Highlights of the week have included: James Griffiths, first ever 360 landed; Blake Bejan and Jules Moore, first Rodeo 540's, landed.

VA FREESKI, 1/13/11

The Freeski Team was very much prepared and excited -- locked and loaded -- for the scheduled "home" Okemo Lakes Region Slopestyle event yesterday, but the monster snowstorm led to a cancellation, followed by a Headmaster's Day of outstanding powder skiing today!  Perhaps this illustrates the importance of a focus on process and preparation, rather than on the final outcome.  Either way, the team is ready to go for Sunappee next Wednesday, and our rescheduled home event on 2/16.

Every member of the team has been challenging himself, progressing, and supporting his teammates.  Below is a sample of some of their rail-skiing talents.  We are just getting to work on jumping this week...

Vermont Academy FREESKI 2011, episode 2 from Chris Marks on Vimeo.