Apex Freestyle Club members found the podium during the Timber Tour and Super Youth Challenge at Apex Mountain. It just wasn’t as much as one person expected.
“We were close on a lot of events with fourth- and fifth-place finishes,” said AFC coach Kenni Kuroda. “Very pleased with the way they performed. We had way more athletes than I had anticipated. The field was really deep. They did exceptionally well and I’m proud of them.”
Alec Henderson earned a gold and bronze medal in the moguls and big air event of the Super Youth Challenge. Freddy Albrechtson won bronze in the big air event, Liam Collyer earned bronze in the moguls. Teigan Holinaty was third among five competitors in moguls and third among four competitors in the slopestyle event. Rhya Covert was the lone competitor in her F6 events. Liam Holinaty was fourth in the big air for M5, while Chad Collyer was sixth in M6 category and earned a bronze medal in slope style.
Teigan Holinaty said she felt good about winning.
“I was happy with how I skied,” the nine-year-old said. “I like it. It was so much fun and I did big air for the first time. It was so much fun.”
Teigan’s mother Karyn Holinaty said her daughter’s reaction to winning was hilarious.
“When she heard her name, her mouth was wide open and her eyes were huge,” said Karyn. “At that age, they are just so excited for everybody else.”
In moguls, for M6 competitors, Chad Collyer was fourth, while brother Alex was sixth. In slope style, Liam Collyer was fifth in M5.
Kuroda said the Super Youth Challenge had several athletes competing for the first time. Those who stood out to him in an unexpectedly deep field were Alec Henderson, Liam Collyer and his brother Chad.
“The Collyer family will be something to reckon with,” said Kuroda.
He was also pleased with Teigan Holinaty and Rhya Covert being out there.
“They really love to compete,” said Kuroda, adding that the two push each other.
In the Timber Tour, Dane Franks earned a bronze in the slopestyle and first in big air of the M2 group. In M3, Matt Finlayson was fourth in slope style, Brayden Kuroda, an M4 competitor, placed fourth in slope style and big air. Joshua Visser earned a bronze in M3 big air. In moguls, Kassidy Todd was second, while Anna Spence and Madison Parker were fourth and fifth respectively.
Kuroda talked about how Franks stood out as he placed first and third in big air and slope style.
“He was definitely on his game this weekend,” said Kuroda, who also mentioned Brayden Kuroda with two fourths and a fifth-place finish.
He also felt Kassidy Todd performed well in moguls earning second place, while her brother Max was third. Kyler Paker, Koleton Phipps, Matt Finlayson and Joe Durham were fourth to seventh respectively. In M4, Todd was third, Kuroda was fifth and James Naude was 10th.
As for AFC alumni, Jordan Kober was first, and brother Joshua was second. Both Kobers compete with the Canadian Sport Institute mogul team. Jordan Cario of the B.C. Freestyle Ski mogul team was fourth. Noah Spence, another member of the B.C. team, was third in mogul.
With the next stop on the Timber Tour in Whistler in the middle of February, Kuroda said it’s back to more training. He expects good results as the first event is always the hardest.