Since an early age most have been exposed to competition and the value of how it can push one’s skills and limits. Recreational Soccer, football, ski racing, and even the friendly competition between siblings and friends presented the opportunity to grow and change. In addition to the personal growth it can offer, this synergistic activity allows particular boundaries to grow within the sport.
As the ski season begins the contests begin to ‘pop’ up far and wide. Anything from the local competition at your home town run, the X games or maybe a bet for a case of beer that one cannot refuse. All of these are important for the mere fact that they will give one an opportunity to push their personal limits. Often time’s disgruntled athletes complain about how they will not compete because ‘its lame’ or ‘the judges suck.’ It is a valid argument that not all contests run as one would like them to, but it is important to remember the purpose of the competition is to grow.
Freeheel skiing is at a crucial point of development. For several years now the numbers of young freeheel skiers has grown tremendously, yet competitions are hard to fill up and many have come and gone due to high pricing of insurance and other issues. Luckily organizers like Nat Ross (Tough guy productions) & Biff Higginson (NE Telemark) have continued to persevere through the struggles.
An important aspect of these events is that they provide the opportunity for young freeheel skiers to showcase their talent in an effort to find sponsorship. These sponsorship opportunities are just as important for the growth of the sport as the comps themselves. This is because with sponsorship comes the chance to ski more and provides more opportunities for athletes to hone their skills. With stronger athletes come better competitions. Not everyone that competes is seeking a career in skiing, nor should that be the case, however competitions offer various opportunities for all that participate.
Cody Smith, who began competing as a young team member of the Carbondale based Colorado Rocky Mountain School, says "If you are interested in seeing the sport of telemark grow as a whole, competitions, both telemark and alpine, offer unique opportunities for both the individual and the sport in terms of exposure."
The 2005 – 2006 will provide not only a 3 event Freeski Circuit, but also a few Slopestyle events. Freeheellife.com would like to challenge all of our readers to go out and participate in these events this year as well as the local events in your home town. Let’s bring the Freeheel presence to the forefront of skiing. Let’s push our personal limits and the boundaries of what can be done on Telemark equipment. Let’s make this the year that we grow more than ever before.
Contributed by Josh Madsen