Woodward Progression Award winner Ella Beutler with Sam Jackenthal Award winner Henry Townsend
Each year, Woodward Camps honors a most progressive athlete from each USASA series with the Woodward Progression Award. Thirty-two USASA recipients get to spend one week honing their skills on snow and on the ramps and tramps at either Woodward Tahoe or Woodward Copper. This year's Big Mountain West Series winner, Ella Beutler, has been on her own personal path of progression. In 2018, Ella won Park City Ski and Snowboard Team's Development Athlete of the Year and in 2019 Ella nabbed bronze at the USASA Slopestyle National Championships after placing 7th in 2018. We had a chance to catch up with Ella and learn what kind of progression can happen in just a week at Woodward Copper.
What did it mean to you to be awarded the Woodward Progression Award?
I am still still stoked!! Five months later it still makes me smile thinking about it. And Kim (Raymer) is so sweet and every time I see her always puts a smile on my face.
What was the best part of attending Woodward Copper this summer?
I got to work on 3 new tricks, one of which I have been working on for 2 years I got to meet new people in different sports and just hanging out. Coach George (Kokefer) was awesome. We set goals on Sunday and started first thing on Monday to complete them. He pushed me and made sure that I achieved my goals.
And, at at the last day of camp I was awarded the GoPro Hero award, and got a GoPro 7 Black!
Did you learn any new tricks or perfect any old ones?
I went there with the intention to work on my front flip, my back flip and rails. And I actually did it. I have been flipping in the water and on-air bags but never on snow. Oh, and I nailed the floppy flounder!
I also was able to hit the mega ramp at the barn and hit both my backflip and a 10 which I have never done before
What was it like having the opportunity to practice tricks on the trampolines and in The Barn and then take it to snow?
It’s a whole lot faster learning, being able to practice on tramp then head to the snow on the same day. I front flipped on snow the 2nd day, and back flipped on the 3rd day. I have been trying to figure that out for 2 years.
Ella with her Woodward Copper coaches after winning the 2019 Woodward GoPro Hero Award
What are you most looking forward to this winter in the Big Mountain West series?
Pretty simple: cork misty and spinning on rails. This is my first year of training full time and I can’t wait to get back on the snow. And I want to continue to promote the sport. There are not enough girls freesking and I want to get more girls out competing
What’s your favorite part about USASA?
I have met people from all over the United States and Australian. In fact, this week I am going out to dinner with kids from Colorado and Oregon
Anything else you want to share or say about your experience?
I can’t wait till next summer, a group of us are already talking about either week 6 or 7 back at Copper