The Futures Tour Slopestyle stop at Copper Mountain took place February 22 & 24th in the Woodward Mountain Park with an international group of freeskiers and snowboarders.
Freeskier took to the course first and despite below-freezing temps and snowy wind gust, the competitors rose to the occasion with Kaylen Riley from the Southern Vermont Series and Stone Karnacewicz from Rocky Mountain Series both landing doubles and snagging the top two spots on the podium. Big Mountain West skier Cael McCarthy nabbed third, his 4 Futures Tour slopestyle podium of the season. Other standout moments include Noah Gianfriddo’s Bio 900 on the third jump.
On the women’s freeski side, Grace Simek put down back to back 360s and a 720 on the three jump line going home with her second Futures Tour gold medal. Grace shared the podium with South Tahoe Series’ Piper Arnold and Roxy Surridge from the Rocky Mountian Series.
Thursday was the snowboard slopestyle competition and while the temperatures continued to drop, the wind and snow calmed down with moments of sun peaking through during the afternoon’s 12 man final. Heading into the last run, Japan’s Aoto Kawakami was sitting in second place but landed a backside 900 on the final jump moving into the lead. Team Summit member and local Rocky Mountain Series rider, Karis Strang put down a boss second run to snag silver. His first podium after missing last season's competition series. Northern Vermont Series’ Sylas Trask grabbed his second podium of the season with a third-place finish.
The women’s competition was a three-run final with Rocky Mountain Series’ Alyssa Morroco besting Kiwi snowboarder Ava Beer. Mae Morelli from the Southern Vermont Series took earned her first Futures Tour Podium.
The Futures Tour heads to Northstar at Tahoe for the final 4 events of the season March 9-11.
Full Results:
Women's Freeski Slopestyle
Men's Freeski Slopestyle