Apex Freestyle Club skiers overcame rainy conditions on a challenging course in Whistler Jan. 29-31 to return home with medals.
AFC coach Kenni Kuroda said the mogul course for the second Timber Tour had to be built back up after being drenched.
“It was a difficult course to ski, although it wasn’t very steep,” Kuroda said. The mogul skiers did fantastic. They really skied well. I was very impressed by all of them.”
They were led by Brayden Kuroda, who topped all athletes with a score of 79.20 in moguls. The next closest was Whistler’s Kevin Leslie, in an older age group, who scored 75.31.
“Very impressed by his skiing for sure,” said Kuroda.
Also picking up medals in mogul were Anna Spence, silver in F16, while Shaina Finlayson and Chloe Kober picked up gold and silver, respectively, in the F18 category. Alexander Henderson, in M14, won gold. Maxwell Todd, M16, earned a bronze medal and James Naude, M18, earned a bronze.
“James Naude I thought skied extremely well,” said Kuroda. “He is just kind of coming into his own now. After Timber Tour one, we’ve been kind of working hard with him. He is skiing faster, he’s a very strong boy. I have big hopes for him.”
Kuroda was also quite impressed by Henderson,12, the rookie in the club.
“He’s one of the youngest skiers in the Timber Tour. He’s really holding his own,” said Kuroda. “He’s doing extremely well, both park and moguls. He’s one to watch out for in the future.”
In big air, Kober won gold, while Finlayson earned silver. Jesse Howden was AFC’s best male in that discipline, placing eighth. In slope style, Henderson missed out on a bronze medal by five points. Kober won gold again with Finlayson picking up silver.
Kuroda said in the other disciplines, Whistler’s park is big with everything and that can be a bit scary for the athletes. He still felt they performed very well.
“Jesse Howden sticks out in my mind. He’s really coming on in park and moguls as well,” Kuroda said. “I’m very pleased with his results. He’s trying to do more, especially in the park then he used to. He is getting his confidence and it shows.”
Kober and Finlayson’s performances didn’t surprise Kuroda, who said both have always been steady in the two disciplines.
“In this day and time, most of the competitors are specializing,” he said. “Those two are still all-round skiers, which is really nice to see.”
Canada Cup Series
On Saturday and Sunday, with the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, AFC is hosting the WIN Canadian Cup Series. This moguls and dual moguls event is being valued in the Canada Cup Rankings.
AFC will be represented by Mason Barzilay, Kuroda, Anna and Noah Spence, Mackenzie Schwinghamer, Howden, Henderson, Jamie Rykuiter, Ethan Phillips, Naude, Koleton Phipps, Kober, Max and Kassidy Todd, Finlayson, Joe Durham, Hayden Person and Kyle Parker.
“This is a tough field. These are the NorAm skiers from Canada,” said Kuroda, adding they are one level below the World Cup skiers.
Kuroda has confidence that his club skiers can make the cut.
“Hopefully get into the top 10 would be great for my skiers,” he said.
Kristi’s Run has been rebuilt and the course is expected to be in excellent condition.
Next weekend in the Calgary NorAm Barzilay, Jordan Kober, the Spence’s, Person, Phipps, Schwinghamer, Todd and Finlayson will compete.
