There are 12 skiers who call Revelstoke home competing in the Canadian Freeskiing Championships this week.
Two – Nicole Derksen and Leah Evans – are pre-qualified into the competition. The other ten – Kim Bastedo, Sean Cochrane, Brett Dawley, Lauren Goss, Jason Jones, Zoya Lynch, Simon Reeves, Gord Spurgeon, J.J. Vinet and C.J. Wright – will have to get through the qualifiers first.
We sent them some questions to learn a little more about them.
Kim Bastedo
Age: 28; Years skiing: 25
What do you do when you’re not skiing? Day job = Petroleum exploration geologist. I’m into rock climbing, swimming and being outside as often as I can be.
Your earliest skiing memory? I remember learning when I was 3 because when I coached racing at the same hill in high school I recognized it and my parents told me I was only there a few times when I had just started skiing. I remember not being able to hold onto the rope tow and having to side step up the hill.
Your favourite run/line at RMR (in or out of bounds)? Cliff Olsen, Cinco, Sylvan’s, the Banker on a pow day OR Snow Rodeo if it’s groomed top to bottom. And spilt milk is pretty alright. Our resort rocks.
Have you ever been in a skiing situation where you thought, “This is no good”? Most tomahawks ;) seriously, anytime I’m falling, can’t stop myself and can’t tell where I am relative to hazards.
What is your goal for the competition? I want to enjoy the moment out there. My goal is to push my limits but keep it together. We’ll see how I stack up when I’m having fun.
Brett Dawley
Age: 28; Year’s skiing: 18
What do you do when you’re not skiing? Sled skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing and fighting forest fires.
Your favourite run/line at RMR (in or out of bounds)? Can not say or everybody is going to ski it.
Have you ever been in a skiing situation where you thought, “This is no good”? I am sure I have been but you just have to figure out a way to get out of it safely.
What is your goal for the competition? To have lots of fun and to ski some fun lines.
Lauren Goss
Age: 23; Year’s skiing: 21
What do you do when you’re not skiing? Currently slinging wings at the Big Eddy Pub. Love to camp, climb, walk the dog, and ride my townie!
Your earliest skiing memory? Hiking up a run in Whitefish on a family ski trip when I was six because I thought I was lost. Really, the run was just divided by trees and my Dad had to hike up behind me because I couldn’t hear him yelling from the bottom.
Your favourite run/line at RMR (in or out of bounds)? Unlimited Ass...ets and Wooley Bully for sure!
Have you ever been in a skiing situation where you thought, “This is no good”? I would say I’ve probably been in lots of those situations, especially when I was younger following my two older brothers around, who never really cared how I felt. BUT, one particularly scary moment was in North Bowl last season, at a spot which is now known in my friend group as “sketchy entrance” because of this bail. It’s a short little traverse right above Brake Check, and the early season conditions made this an unfortunate spot to get my tip caught on the tree that spun me around backwards and sent me straight into these steep trees quite a ways below. During the backwards summersault I definitely had the “this is it” thought but my arm got caught on a tree which stopped me. And my brother had to climb down and get my skis... I guess what goes around comes around hey!
What is your goal for the competition? Ski fast and have fun!
Zoya Lynch
Age: 20; Years skiing: 18
What do you do when you’re not skiing? Fun: Yoga and photography. Work: Planting trees and slinging plates at the Village Idiot.
Your favourite run/line at RMR (in or out of bounds)? In bounds: Gracias Ridge and really fast laps on Seperate Reality. Outtabounds: Brown Shorts and Thumbs Up.
Have you ever been in a skiing situation where you thought, “This is no good”? I’ve been in that situation way too many times. Six broken bones and five concussions later and I am finally starting to listen to my gut instincts! Breaking my back in April 2010 was a real eye opener for me. I came back really strong from the injury but it also opened my eyes to the dangers of the mountain.
What is your goal for the competition? Choose a creative line and ski it like a champ! Smile, give lots of high fives, and cheer on my friends. Competition is fun because it pushes you to do things that you might just ski past on a normal day.
Simon Reeves
Age: 24; Years skiing: 6
What do you do when you’re not skiing? Working at Suttton Place Hotel, enjoying vino and bouldering in the basement.
Your earliest skiing memory? Skiing into a poma hut when I didn’t know how to turn.
Your favourite run/line at RMR (in or out of bounds)? Gracias Ridge.
Have you ever been in a skiing situation where you thought, “This is no good”? Any situation where the snowpack is questionable, two years ago I cut a class two on Door Two and wasn’t thrilled about completing the rest of the run.
What is your goal for the competition? Control and fluidity.
Gord Spurgeon
Age: 25; Years skiing: 22
What do you do when you’re not skiing? Too much to list!
Your earliest skiing memory? Skiing with my Dad at Panorama.
Your favourite run/line at RMR (in or out of bounds)? Kokanee Bowl, Your Mom’s House.
Have you ever been in a skiing situation where you thought, “This is no good”? Skiing is always good!
What is your goal for the competition? Make it to the heli ride, ski well.
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Sean Cochrane and JJ Vinet did not submit responses to our questions. We did not receive contact information for Jason Jones and CJ Wright.