Mason Barzilay has the “jive.”
That’s how B.C. Freestyle Ski coach Tanya Callon described the newest member of the freestyle club to improve. Like Callon, Barzilay is a graduate of the Apex Freestyle Club, and the coach said the 16-year-old wants to go far.
“Mason works really hard at what she does,” said Callon. “It will be great to see where she gets to this year after the season.”
Barzilay, a West Kelowna resident, made the jump from the AFC to the B.C. Freestyle team after she placed first or second in all the B.C. Series events she entered. She also won the single moguls B.C. Series II at Silverstar in Vernon and captured the dual moguls event during the B.C. championship in Whistler. She also placed eighth in single moguls at junior nationals.
“It was an amazing season and I did very well,” said Barzilay, an honour roll student at Mt. Boucherie. “I’m very happy with what I did.”
Now she’s excited to take on the challenge that comes with succeeding with the BCF team. Her goal is to earn enough points to get a NorAm spot for next year. Barzilay said it’s been different being with the BCF team as there is more training and time away from home, but it’s something she’s getting accustomed to.
Barzilay is also discovering that training with the BCF brings more responsibility, which includes staying at the ski hill for one or two weeks at a time, keeping busy with homework and even having to get her own groceries.
The added workload is pushing Barzilay and she’s just fine with it.
“If I push myself harder then I will definitely excel,” said Barzilay, who looks up to Summerland Olympian Kristi Richards because she has pursued the sport a long time and has stuck with it. “That will lead me in a good direction.”
Barzilay began mogul skiing when she was seven after her parents asked if she wanted to try. That led to joining the jumps and bumps and getting her wings, which allowed Barzilay to compete. Barzilay performed well, finding herself on the podium in her first try. From there, her confidence grew.
Heading into this season, the focus with Callon is to improve Barzilay’s turns to make her more direct and faster.
“That’s what she needs to compete at next level,” said Callon.
As for how she will fair against her new competition, Callon has faith she will be on par, “because of the fact that she really wants it.”
