It’s time for the next wave of Apex Freestyle Club members to make their mark on Timber Tour.
AFC coach Kenni Kuroda said the club is in a rebuilding phase after last year’s top competitive skiers moved up to Team B.C.
“At our younger levels, the registration is huge,” said Kuroda. “For the next two years, it’s a rebuild process to get the kids up to competition level.”
This season’s flock of competitive skiers include Alec Henderson, Ethan Phillips, Ainsley MacDonald, Cole Patton, Nate Parsons, Jordan MacDonald and Andrew Carlow. Kuroda, a former two-time Japanese Professional Freestyle Champion, European Pro Mogul Champ and Canadian Pro Freestyle Champ, believes they will perform well this weekend. This is especially the case for Ainsley and Jordan, who are not related, as well as Ethan and Alec, who surprised Kuroda with their performances during the Toyo Tires Canada Cup Series at Apex Mountain last weekend.
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Among 32 female competitors, Ainsley and Jordan placed 22nd and 23rd, respectively in single moguls. Kuroda said they never let nerves get to them. Phillips and Henderson placed 22nd and 28th, respectively.
Their performances provided huge confidence boosters, said Kuroda.
“They are skiing to a high quality club level,” said Kuroda prior to the Canada Cup. “Taking that next big step up is quite a step. I expect them to do well at Timber Tour. My junior competitive team, are keen and eager.”
The junior competitive kids include Ethan Morf, Sasha Lovell, Darrah Lovell, Brennan Jensen, Kal Kozakevich, Rhya Covert, Rylan Koturbash, Grady Parsons, Quinn Patton, Cullen Bray and Nolan Cornell. Kuroda added that AFC’s junior competitive program is doing very well and will move a few of those kids up next year.
After Apex hosts the first Timber Tour this weekend, AFC will head to the second stop in Whistler Feb. 2 to 5. Timber Tour championships are at Silver Star in Vernon March 23 to 26.