Freeride - Whitefish IFSA 3*
March 7-9, 2025 - What a weekend at the 2025 IFSA Jr 3* event in Whitefish, MT. The team arrived early to ski three days of fresh snow, getting a feel for the new venue before the competition started. It was a steep, challenging course, and everyone was eager to tackle it.
The fresh snow transitioned to perfect rippable corn by qualifier day, and Liam Coyle skied to 5th place in the U15 Boys Ski category. He showed great control and confidence on the tough terrain. Ewan Jedlic also finished 5th in the U19 Boys Ski category, with a strong, aggressive run that kept him moving fluidly through the course.
Eva Barkin earned 3rd place in the U15 Girls Ski event, putting down a solid, consistent run on the steep and exposed venue. But the highlight of the weekend was Ava Fox in the U15 Girls Ski. Ava’s run was bold—she attacked the course with a fearless, fall-line approach and hit multiple airs, ultimately earning her the win. It was a run that truly showcased her skill and aggression.
As finals day approached, the temps cooled and the snow surface froze up tight. Hopeful to put down more impressive runs, our crew devised multiple routes down the face making adjustments for what type of snow each athlete may encounter. As the clouds kept stacking up and temps dropped, the event staff made the call that the face was too dangerous to compete on with multiple no-fall zones and lots of secondary exposure, so the results from day one carried through to be the final results for our team’s last 3* event of the season.
In all, we wrapped up the season on a high note. It was a weekend full of great skiing, growth, and moments of true grit. Proud of the team for how they handled the competition and showed up for each other. What a way to close out the season! Now our SBA freeriders wait to see how the last few events order the rankings and cross their fingers for a Junior Freeride Championships invite!