Aspiring Olympic mogul skiers will get their chance to showcase their skills during a Canadian selection camp.
To be held at Apex Mountain starting Dec. 15, it’s the second year the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association has held the talent camp and competitions for its national C team and provincial-level mogul athletes.
CFSA High Performance program director David Mirota said the Canadian Selections are designed to evaluate Canadian mogul athletes and use the data to track and identify athletes with national team potential and give them the opportunities to grow in the sport.
“Raw talent and learned skill are definitely part of what we’re looking for,” said Mirota. “But physical factors are only part of the equation on the path to becoming an Olympic or world champion. We also look at mental performance indicators too, like the ability to perform on demand and stress management techniques.”
There will be two days of competition on Dec. 17 and 18 and each participant will have a minimum of four competition runs to impress CFSA coaches and evaluators.
Former Apex Freestyle Club members participating are Connor Spence, Andi Naude, Jake Little, Jordan Cario, Josh Kober and Mason Barzilay. Current AFC members competing are Jordan Kober, Matt Finlayson, Noah Spence and Kyle Parker.
Ronda Barzilay, media relations for AFC, said there is a strong chance there will be at least three locals who perform well. Because the event takes place at Apex Mountain, that will help.
“They get to compete on their home mountain,” said Barzilay. “A lot of these kids have been skiing on it since they were old enough to walk. They will have support of friends and family.”
Barzilay’s daughter, Mason, said this is one of the more important events in her competitive schedule this season.
“I have been training really hard and this is very important to me,” said Mason, who joins the B.C. mogul team this season. “I’m as ready as I can be at this point.”
There will also be six athletes from Ontario, 12 from Alberta, 16 from Quebec, one Korean, 21 from B.C. and members of the national freestyle team.
The public is invited to watch the runs on both days starting at 9:15 a.m. with the finals at 1:45 p.m.