SKIING MAG. COVER!

This has been out for awhile, but check it out...cover of SKIING!!!

I just arrived back home yesterday from the World Freeskiing Championships in Alyeska, AK. It was such a blast hanging with the crew for one last time before the season was over.

Day One..the north face.

Day One went really well for me. I picked a smooth, simple line that I knew I could ski fast, fluid, and aggressive. I was the first one out of the gate starting off the competition. I had no time to get nervous or think about my line. I just dropped in and did my thing…

A crown at the top of the venue with the ash layer.

There was some amazing skiing thrown down on the North Face for day one.

Day one standings…

1 Rebecca Selig

2 Karine Falck-Pedersen

3 Jacqui Edgerly

3 Crystal-Rose Lee

1. Tim Dutton

2. Lars Chickering-Ayers

3. Luke Nelson

On to day 2…the waiting game.

Damn

The plan for day two was to wait for the control work to finish up and then to meet up on top at 11:30 to try and get one inspection in and then a heli ride to the top of the headwall for the competition. Long story short, we didn’t end up inspecting until about 2:30! But good thing we were in AK because we ended up skiing around 5 o’clock! The last guy didn’t come down until about 7pm.

What a beautiful night it was. Johnny and all of our fallen friends were there looking down at us, guiding us through one last competition for 2009.

Lexi DuPont soaking up the beautiful skies!

Selig and DuPont stoked on the ride!

The competition went smoothly, without any big crashes or accidents!! I skied a nice fast run until I hit the money booter at the bottem and got kicked a bit sideways and ended up eating it, unfortunatly.

I am stoked on my season… all the way from a 2nd in Telluride, to 3rd place in Kirkwood, to a fantastic time in Alaska!! And for this year I ended up in 8th place overall. (Pretty good but I know I can do better.) Thanks to all my sponsors for making everything possible!!! North Face, Black Diamond, and Smith Optics!!

Alyeska…

AK style.

The Venue!

Sonja and Rebecca chillin.

I arrived in Alaska a few days ago. It was an easy flight up here…and now I am staying in a house with Rebecca Selig, Sonja Lercher, Aaron Schmidt, Luke Nelson, and Dex Mills. It is great to be here back with the whole family. We went skiing yesterday and had a blast, we pretty much just took over Alyeska…free skiers everywhere.

Hell yeah! Stoked!

The Crew!

THE WORLDS BEST ARE INVITED TO ALASKA

THE WORLD’S BEST COMPETITIVE FREESKIERS ARE INVITED TO THE SUBARU FREESKIING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS APRIL 9-13, 2009, AT ALYESKA RESORT, ALASKA

Watch all the action from Alyeska Resort LIVE Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, on www.freeskiingworldtour.com

Salt Lake City, Utah, April 1, 2009 –- The invitations have been sent and the world’s best freeskiers are preparing for the fourth and final stop on the 2009 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour (FWT) at Alyeska Resort, Alaska, April 9-13, for the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships.

“Alaska is the Augusta National of Freeskiing and the only place to hold the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships,” said Adam Comey, President of Mountain Sports International. “As an athlete, you have to grind thru competitions all winter to reach this final stage and the winner will truly be the best freeskier in the world.”

With approximately 55 competitors invited to the Subaru Freeskiing World Championships at Alyeska, the current FWT points leaders Julien Lopez of La Plagne, France, and Crystal Wright of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will have their work cut out for them as they try to hold onto their titles. Other contenders vying for the $20,000 prize purse include 2009 Subaru North American Freeskiing Champions Sonja Lercher and Tim Dutton, 2009 Subaru Telluride Freeskiing World Tour Qualifier winner Mark Welgos, 2009 Subaru US Extreme Freeskiing Champion Clif Bennett, as well as Phillipa Hunt, Hannah Whitney, Jacqui Edgerly, Dylan Crossman, Caleb Mullen, Lars Chickering-Ayers, and big mountain freeskiing legend Aaron Estrada. Also in attendance will be reigning Subaru Freeskiing World Champions Kent Hyden and Crystal-Rose Lee. For a complete list of invited athletes, log onto www.freeskiingworldtour.com.

“We are proud to Host the 2009 Subaru Freeskiing World Championships,” said Alyeska Resort Director of Sales and Marketing Jason Lott. “We look forward to providing a true Alaska experience for all the athletes and spectators that travel to Alyeska. The conditions could not be better and our terrain is prepared to test the world’s greatest athletes.”
Subaru Freeskiing World Championships Schedule- Alyeska, Alaska

OFFICIAL INVITE LIST
Men:
Julien Lopez
Cliff Bennett
Tim Dutton
Caleb Mullen
Matt Potter
Drew Stoecklein
Griffin Post
Dex Mills
John Lange
Mathieu Gagnon
Aaron Schmidt
Nick Greener
Sean Cochrane
Garrett Altman
Mark Fillipini
Scott Hanichen
Alex Else
Damon Bushi
Dylan Crossman
Luke Nelson
Christian Bouchier
Arne Backstrom
Craig Garbiel
Mark Welgos
Brett Crabtree
Lars Chichering-Ayers
Dane Tudor
Kent Hyden
Travis Wolfe
Nick DeVore
Drew Tabke
Chope Diaz
Elijah Lee
Jesse Bryan
John Mason

Women:
Crystal Wright
Sonja Lercher
Pip Hunt
Karine Falck-Pedersen
Michelle Manning
Hannah Whitney
Emily Teague
Leah Evans
Jacqui Edgerly
Rebecca Selig
Araina Stufano
Katherine Lange
Crystal Rose-Lee
Jackie Passo
Jen Ashton
Daniela Anguita
Elyse Saugstad
Jess McMillan

Rogel Photos…

Hiking up...Rogel Photo

Through the Trees...Rogel Photo

Night skiing....Rogel Photo

Back home in Aspen.

I just arrived back home in Aspen last night after a long journey from Japan. I thought I would post up a few more photos before I head out for the Snowbird competition on Tuesday.

What a fabulous trip!!

Many thanks to The North Face and Black Diamond for all their help!!

Rogel Photo

Thanks for everything!

Pankakes

Yeah..that was a crazy run!

Hanging out at the Ocean

Rogel Photo

A few more shots..

Asahidake

pillow land

Niesko

Secret zone.

Scoping lines out.

Onsening.

Japanese pup.

We are now staying with the Sweetgrass crew in Kuchan, which is  20 minutes from the Niesko resorts. We have been skiing some deep pow, pillows, and just the other day we got to ski the super sick secret zone! Stay posted for more photos.

More from the land of sushi…

Weaving with flower man.

I ripped the fabric.

Flower man..and his flowers.