Teens Prepare to Compete Like the Pros in The North Face 2012 Junior Freeskiing Tour

The Junior Freeskiing Tour (JFT) is back with five stops on some of the biggest, gnarliest terrain in the country. The tour will conclude with stop #5 in Snowbird, UT on April 4-7, 2012.

“We, at Mountain Sports International, are committed to the development and growth of this sport,” said Barb Hamblett, Senior Project Manager at MSI. “There is a very strong core community of individuals, families and coaches who are committed to nurturing this sport in the most positive way. We want to recognize that, provide opportunity and build upon this great community of freeskiers.”

The JFT is a platform to develop young professional big mountain athletes by providing opportunities for them to compete and help progress the sport of big mountain freeskiing, with many of them continuing on to the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour (FWT). Alumni of the Junior Freeskiing Tour include Johnny Collinson, Silas Chickering-Ayers and Leo Ahrens, all currently competing on the Subaru FWT.

Each JFT event is sanctioned by the International Free Skiers Association (IFSA) creating consistent judging throughout the competitive season. Last year, the judging format changed to reward the freestyle aspect of the events. The JFT is open to men and women, ages 12 through high school graduation, with two age groups making up the competition field, 12-14 and 15-18.

Athlete and media registration for Crested Butte, Crystal Mountain, Squaw Valley and Snowbird opens on December 6, 2011 at 10 a.m. MST at www.jrfreeskiing.com.

2011 Results

Girls 12-14
1 Erin Kempt, Bridger Bowl
2 Jacqueline Pollard, AltaBird Freeride
3 Brittany Barefield, Crested Butte
4 Edie Mason, AltaBird Freeride
5 Jess Sterrett, AltaBird Freeride


Boys 12-14
1 Grant Howard, AltaBird Freeride
2 Seth Klein, AltaBird Freeride
3 Emmett Seely, Sugar Bowl
4 Sam Casper, AltaBird Freeride
5 Casey Rose, Alta
6 Austin Stromme, Crystal Mountain
7 Chris Astle, AltaBird Freeride
8 Chase Whitney, Squaw Valley Big Mountain
9 Kevin Nichols, Vail Ski Club
10 Mitch Gilman, Vail Ski Club
11 Jack Nichols, Vail Ski Club
12 Stein Arntson, Squaw Valley Big Mountain
13 Xander Guldman, Sugar Bowl
14 Jonathan Reuter, Kirkwood
15 Travers Johnson, AltaBird Freeride
16 Matt Kramer, Vail Ski Club


Girls 15-17
1 Mackenzie Epperson- Valum, AltaBird Freeride
2 Skye Mooney, Axis Freeride
3 Josie Byron, Crested Butte Freeride
4 Perry Martin, AltaBird Freeride
5 Stefanie Cooke, Young Riders Crew – Chamonix
6 Anna Suszynski, Vail
7 Natalie Barefield, Crested Butte Ski Team


Boys 15-17
1 Leo Ahrens, AltaBird Freeride
2 Riley Rose, Alta
3 Charlie May, AltaBird Freeride
4 Andrew Binder, Colorado/Snowbird
5 Jack Francis, AltaBird Freeride
6 Ian Borgeson, Team Summit
7 Bo Wagner, AltaBird Freeride
8 Leo Slemett, Young Riders Crew – Chamonix
9 Isaac Freeland, Sugar Bowl
10 Jackson Bodtker, Bridger Freeride Team
11 Matt Evans, Crested Butte
12 Lloyd Dahlem, Crystal Mountain
13 Forrest Cole, Irwinite Team
14 Drew Hartley, Sugar Bowl
15 Miles Honens, Squaw Valley Big Mountain
16 Kevin Gillie, Vail Ski Club
17 James Hunt, Jackson Hole Ski Club
18 Philip Patterson, Crystal Mountain
19 Jake Teuton, Revelstoke
20 Max Kaupas, Team Summit
21 Drew Petersen, Team Summit
22 Zach Halverson, Ungroomed
23 George Rodney, Team Summit