Current and past members of the Apex Freestyle Club enjoyed strong performances during the WIN Canada Cup Series at Apex Mountain Feb.6-7.
On the first day, which featured single mogul competition, Mason Barzilay, Jamie Rykuiter and Kassidy Todd all reached finals.
Barzilay finished fourth and missed the podium by six points, behind Ontario’s Mikela Bergevin, who scored 67.5. Barzilay liked her final run after having some trouble during her finals training.
“I was excited to pull it all together. I had a good placing coming into finals,” she said. “I push myself really hard so I expect the best from myself. I feel pretty good.”
Taking gold was Ontario’s Sofiane Gagnon, while AFC grad Mackenzie Schwinghamer earned silver. Barzilay said the field is stronger this year as females are coming up with more skill.
“It gets tougher every year,” she said. “The 12 year olds are skiing amazing.”
As for the course conditions, Barzilay found it to be soft in some areas, but firm underneath, which is how she likes it. In dual moguls on Sunday, Barzilay finished sixth.
Rykuiter was right behind Barzilay in sixth in moguls, scoring 53.5.
Before completing her final run, Rykuiter was worried and excited, but said it was just about pushing herself. The Vernon native felt good about what she did and was happy to reach the finals. Her goal on the weekend was to ski her best and have fun.
“It’s pretty competitive,” Rykuiter said of the field. “It really pushes you. It’s humbling.”
Rykuiter placed 11th in dual moguls.
Keremeos’s Kassidy Todd finished seventh with 50.69 points. She said her last run was good and was happy with the finish.
“In my qualifying runs, my first run I did really good on my airs, and my second run I did good on my turns,” she said. “This time I feel like I kind of put it together, which is kind of awesome.”
Qualifying for finals was a big deal for Todd, who competes for Team B.C. Todd placed seventh in dual moguls.
When it comes to competing in dual moguls, she stuck with the same tricks, especially those that are easy to go into fast. She finished seventh among the top 16. She has competed in four events this season and has done well.
Anna Spence of AFC placed ninth in moguls and dual moguls while AFC’s Shaina Finlayson finished 10th in moguls and 12th in dual moguls.
On the men’s side, Alberta’s Davis Clement won gold, Ontario’s Ryan Portello took silver and Alberta’s Julian Kapronczai earned bronze.
Hayden Person of B.C. placed ninth. Pentictonite Noah Spence was 13th, while Brayden Kuroda of AFC was 15th.
For dual moguls the top placings were nearly identical, though Ben Pratt took silver. Kuroda was seventh, Person 12th, Koleton Phipps 14th, Kyle Parker 19th and James Naude, 20th. Naude is the brother of Canadian national team member Andi Naude.
