Four locals throw down at Big Sky Resort snowboarding competition
Sandpoint's Calvin Schmidt competes for Team Snowboard Northwest in a USASA freestyle competition held this past Saturday at the Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Mont.
Photo by Mike Jones/Bozeman, Mont.
From left, locals Calvin Schmidt, Drew Falcone, Owen Miller and Cade Hanson sit atop the slope while at Saturday's competition.
BIG SKY, Mont. — Four local athletes — Calvin Schmidt, Drew Falcone, Owen Miller and Cade Hanson — started off the first weekend of the new year at the Big Sky Resort, competing in United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association slopestyle and rail jam events, the first events of the Inland Northwest Series' season.
In the slopestyle competition, which involves riders taking turns going down a course consisting of obstacles such as rails, jumps, and various other park features, points are scored for originality, amplitude and execution. After catching the eye of the judges while throwing down their best tricks, Miller came away with a silver medal in the 15-16 age category, scoring 903 points, Hanson scored bronze with 802 points, and Falcone and Schmidt finished fourth and fifth with 751 points and 700 points, respectively.
For the rail jam session, which is similar to slopestyle but specifically focuses on tricks done on rails, Falcone showed off some standout tricks and earned a second-place finish with 903 points in the 15-22 age category while Miller's consistency on the rails landed him a third-place finish with 802 points. Hanson finished fourth and Schmidt fifth with 751 points and 700 points, respectively.
Athletes that compete for Team Snowboard Northwest train both during the week and on weekends. Snowboard Northwest was originally founded by snowboarders who saw a need for a competition-based youth team in the area. The purpose of the club is to help athletes grow their technical snowboarding skills, compete at local and national level events, learn safe backcountry processes, enhance their love of the sport, and foster a supportive, encouraging environment so that all may succeed to the best of their abilities, both in competition and in life.
Team Snowboard Northwest will compete in the same events Jan. 25., also at the Big Sky Resort, which is located roughly one hour and 20 minutes south of Bozeman.
From left, locals Calvin Schmidt, Drew Falcone, Owen Miller and Cade Hanson sit atop the slope while at Saturday's competition.