BV Freeride Teams

Learn and Compete

The BV Freeride Team will be back for the 2024-25 season, offering big mountain and terrain park adventure for skiers and snowboarders.

What is Freeride?

The terms “freeride” and “big mountain” are synonymous and essentially refer to any skiing or snowboarding that takes place in natural terrain and snow conditions, and embodies a style of riding that utilizes the mountain’s many rocks, trees, bumps, and pitches in a creative way. It typically does not include groomed surfaces or man-made features, and it utilizes and combines skills and techniques from all other disciplines of skiing and snowboarding.

What the Team is All About

We’ll be focusing on big-mountain style skiing and riding, risk assessment, and generally raising kids’ comfort levels on every terrain and in every condition the mountains can throw at them. They’ll spend a lot of time on the mountain – on the steeps and in the trees – as well as some time in the park and in the air, and exploring the backcountry.

Competition Format

Freeride competitions are judged events that take place on a section of natural, ungroomed mountain terrain. Each competitor skis individually from a designated starting point to a designated finish point, but chooses their own route through the competition area in_between. A panel of judges scores their run based upon 5 categories, and their score is ranked against those of other competitors in their age group. Each competitor gets 1-2 runs, depending on the event.

Before taking their competition runs, competitors have time to carefully inspect the venue (with their coach) at slow speeds and choose their line. Each person chooses a line that allows them to showcase their personal strengths and push themselves while also remaining safe and in control. In this sense it is best to approach these competitions as a personal challenge more than a competition against others. Everyone skis/rides differently and has different comfort zones, and the goal is to challenge yourself and have fun!

Competition Options

Team members will have the option to compete in regional freeride competitions as part of the Ski the East Freeride Tour, as well as select IFSA North American Junior Tour events. Competitions are a great way to encourage team building and expand athletes’ horizons, and they’re also a lot of fun. But they’re not for everyone, so those kids that want to hone their skills for the sake of skiing their best without competing have that option as well. The coaching staff will be available for each comp, as well as on the hill at BV every scheduled training day.

Enrollment

Athletes MUST be able to ski safely and in control, making parallel turns from the summit of all Bolton Valley chairs, and in black diamond terrain (groomed and un-groomed). Skill assessments are mandatory at the start of the season. For more information, click HERE