Teal Harle, Grade 11 at Podium of Life Snow Sports Academy, and Todd Heard, Grade 9 in Duncan, travelled to Ontario to compete in the Canadian open series in halfpipe and slopestyle. Both of these events will be in the Olympics this year.
The event was open to all ages, with a few semi-professionals competing. The first day, skiers performed in the halfpipe where Harle qualified for the finals but Heard did not. After the judges submitted their scores, Harle ended up in fifth position.
The second day was the slopestyle event, where skiers ride rails and hit jumps, spinning and flipping and grabbing. Harle did not throw down a clean run and did not progress, but Heard finished ninth.
"I was quite happy with my halfpipe run because I did not get much of a chance to train it," commented Harle. "I did not stomp my slopestyle run this time, which was a let down. But there will be other competitions."
These placings were pretty good for such a big event, a Podium of Life spokesperson noted.
Both boys fly to Prince George this week to compete in the BC Timber Tours.
– Podium of Life Snow Sports Academy