tevens Pass Ski Area in Washington State will host its first freeskiing event February 1-3, 2008. This event is for ages 14-17 and will showcase some of the best young freeskiers in the region as they ski for a shot at a National Championship in Big Mountain Freeskiing. With competitive junior freeskiing only a few years old the IFSA (International Free Skiers Association) is looking to increase the number of events available to these young athletes and create a Championship event that will highlite and showcase North America’s best young rippers.
Over the past few years many ski areas in the U.S. and Canada have been providing a junior category in their Big Mountain Freeskiing events. In this time more and more juniors have signed up to participate and this has created a demand and the need for juniors to have their own events. Just this year in Red Mt. We saw over 100 athletes from ages 7-18 compete for big prizes and recognition. These kinds of numbers need an event of their own and we want to help make this happen for organizers and athletes.
For the 2008 season Crystal Mountain Ski Resort will host the first IFSA Jr. National Championships on March 7-9th for ages 14-17 year olds. Top athletes from the ‘Cowboy Up’ event at Stevens Pass and top finishers from the Crested Butte Junior Extreme Freeskiing Championships will be invited to the National Championship at Crystal Mountain. Top finishers from other North American events with competitive ages between 14 and 17 will also be considered. (i.e. Telluride, ages 16 and up this year)There will also be a qualifier day at the National Championships for more qualifying opportunities for that event. It is our goal to include more junior events from across U.S. and Canada to participate as we want to draw qualified athletes from these longstanding events and create a North American Championship in 2009.

The ‘Cowboy Up’ Junior Freeskiing Challenge will be held off Stevens Pass’ Cowboy Ridge. The majority of the ridge consists of towering cliffs, Chutes and fluted spines and the event will take advantage of a portion of this terrain as skiers will ski from the ridge through the terrain of “7th Heaven” and “Cloud 9”. This highly visible venue will be a good test of endurance and creativity for competitors and great spectical for viewers.

Registration for “The Cowboy Up” will be open on Friday Feb 1 at Stevens Pass or you can go on line today and pre register at www.mountainchallenge.org. Please download the registration packet, fill it out and bring it to the registration desk on Friday Feb 1. There will be a mandatory athlete meeting on Friday afternoon at 5:00pm. Competition begins Saturday morning at 10:00am. There will be prize money and lots of schwaag for competitors.
I hope you will join us at Stevens Pass as the best young rippers…”Cowboy Up” on way to a chance at the National Championship! For more information or to answer questions please contact us at www.freeskiers.org. or log on at www.stevenspass.com.