This past weekend marked the last stop of Tough Guy Productions  Mountain Hardwear Telemark Big Mountain Series.  It was the last chance for the athletes to accumulate points in the quest to receive an invitation from TGP to go to Alaska. Only three men and three women would go. Sixty-two people from all over North America would rejoice as the day started with the clouds and heavy fog lifting, unfolding into a bluebird day.  The competitors had a chance to showcase their skills on a large array of difficult runs ranging from steep moguls to airing fifteen to twenty-foot cliffs out of what is known as Pocket Air.

The majority of contestants chose to ski down Angle Gully: a rock scattered chute with mandatory airs.  The day was highlighted by the flawless dropping of Pocket Air, a fifteen-foot drop preceded by a technical entry of littered with rocks. Two women competitors: Sydney Fuller and Becca Lesure, were the first women to do so in the telemark competition ever.

Day two of competition was held on the Staircase Venue. Notable line choices include such CB classics as: Slot Rocks, Dead Bob’s Shoot, and Body Bag.  The names themselves describe the danger involved as many of the steep airs include high speed run outs with scattered trees in the exit routes, keeping athletes on their toes.  When held at this venue in previous years, Dead End Chutes had been a run of choice for top performers but was closed off this year due to exposed rocks in the landings.

Even steeper than Headwall, Staircase tested everyone’s abilities. One slip up and you could easily slide to the bottom with your skis above your head.  Everyone pushed their limits to what the snow conditions would allow.  Line choice proved to be the ultimate judging factor as those choosing the difficult lines of Body Bag and Slot Rocks would scale the rankings, and those who chose easier lines would suffer by not qualifying for the super finals.

The judges announced the top six women and top ten men that would head back to the starting gate to once again show why they deserved to be on the podium.  The women who ventured into the more dangerous lines would be rewarded and the men found out, after the first run, that Body Bag was the highest scoring run of the day.  Competitor Peter Madigan gave spectators a scare by sliding head first down fifty-feet of vertical and off a ten-foot cliff, leaving all of the male competitors with a better reason to ski flawlessly down their lines.  Standout Phil Spinner received the largest cheer of the day after hiking quickly mid-run to get more speed for his twenty-five foot drop to rock solid snow in the landing.  

The two days wrapped up at the awards where the top athletes of their class were rewarded with cash and prizes: $500 for the top juniors and $1000 for the top adults.  No sick bird award was presented due to the snow conditions, limiting what competitors were willing to do for that coveted prize. 

The top overall tour leaders were also announced and the top three men and women were rewarded with the trip to Alaska for ten days.  They will be part of a team filming in front of the Tough Guy cameras in the Tailgate Alaska film competition, have RV accommodations, and helicopter time.

-Kjell Ellefson