Local snowboarders win big at 2024 Schweitzer IFSA Junior Regional
From left to right, coach Shawn Taylor, Owen Miller, coach Teague Mullen, Calvin Schmidt, Drew Falcone, Max Taylor, and Zadok Steffen pose for a photo at the 2024 IFSA Junior Regionals held this past weekend at Schweitzer.
(Courtesy Photo)
The next generation of big mountain freeskiers and riders took on some of the steepest and most challenging terrain in the Pacific Northwest as they competed at the 2024 International Freeskier and Snowboard Association Junior Regionals held March 16-17 at Schweitzer.
Per usual, athletes threw down their best while judges scored them based on style, control, technique, fluidity, and line choice.
In the men’s divisions, Max Taylor (Coeur d’Alene) and Owen Miller (Sandpoint) came out on the top of the podium with first place finishes in the U19 and U15 divisions, respectively. Miller finished with a total score of 66.34, Taylor a 63.00. Also in the U19 division, Drew Falcone (Spokane) placed second, Zadok Steffen (Bonners Ferry) fourth, and Calvin Schmidt (Sandpoint) fifth. Jaeson Walker (Sandpoint) placed fifth in the U15 division.
For the girls, Lilly Barajas (Sandpoint) placed first in the U19 women’s division with a score of 37.10.
Taylor, Falcone, Miller, and Maddie Hall (Sandpoint), have qualified and will compete with the best-of-the-best at the IFSA Junior Freeride Championships set to be held April 8-10 in Breckenridge, Colo. This JFC is the world's largest freeride competition with over 370 skiers and snowboarders from four countries coming together in the spirit of sport and progression.