Local skier Kemink wins Rail Jam national championship

SANDPOINT — Executing moves with names like donkey, waterfall, barrel and a nose butter 450, local skier Andre Kemink topped a field of more than 50 competitors to win a national title in the Rail Jam at the USASA National Championships recently in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Kemink, a junior at Sandpoint High School who also plays tennis and soccer, has been skiing since the age of 2 years-old and attends a handful of competitions around the Northwest each year.

When asked what he did to win the judged competition, he described a move whereby he not only landed on a skinny rail on his skis, but landed on the tips with the skis bent like bananas.

“I did a nose-butter 450 onto the rail. You go up onto your nose, then slide it. I also did a 270 onto the largest rail, seven feet up,” described Kemink, who was asked what he loved most about the winter sport. “Skiing with your friends and what not.”

Skiing is a family affair for the Keminks, as mom Teresa Kemink also competed at nationals, finishing second in the Legends class in slopestyle, where competitors catch air over a series of big jumps.

The PE and health teacher at Washington and Kootenai Elementary Schools said she doesn’t catch nearly the same air as the young kids, but still has the chops to earn a spot on the podium.

“I just get a little bit of air,” said Teresa. “I can still slide rails, and at my age, if you can slide some rails and catch some air, you can get near the top.”

Younger brother Dante was also in action, finishing 37th in the skiercross in thre 13-15 year-old bracket at nationals. Local snowboarder Kildy Pogue competed in the Grommet 8-9 year-old division, finishing 31st in slalom, 54th in slopestyle and 40th in boarder cross.

Andre Kemink needed some serious stamina to win the rail jam, as competitors had to hike up on their own for every run for a half hour straight in both the semis and finals. The competition was held at 9,700 feet, so any cardio activity is going to be extra tough.

Teresa said being in top condition paid dividends. That and nailing all of his tricks before the judges.

“Fitness played a big part, he had to hike up every run. His stamina and perseverance were key,” described Teresa of Andre, who never crashed. “Doing the tricks repeatedly, without falling was big. A lot of the other riders were falling.”

Kemink also placed 17th in the 16-18 year-old category of the Slopestyle competition, with big jumps and rails. He flies more than 60 feet on some of the jumps, which feature flips and twists galore.

The Keminks travel to about 10 competitions a year, and with plenty of talent and drive, more strong finishes could be found in the future.