Featured Picture: Jordy Grant-Krenz | Skier: Reid Litwiller
If yr one didn’t show it, yr two actually did; The Silver Belt is likely one of the greatest occasions in freeskiing. Final week we acquired definitive proof of precisely that, because the storm clouds cleared and the attractive Sierra Nevada mountains got here out to play for the 2025 Silver Belt competitors.
Sugar Bowl Resort noticed a number of toes of snow blow in from the west in a basic Sierra storm on the Sunday and Monday main as much as the comp . Chilly temps stored the snow comparatively mild, particularly by California requirements, which gave the riders loads to work with when constructing options on the course.
After a stacked qualifier spherical ensued on Wednesday, extra blue skies and sunshine awaited because the finalist roster was cemented. Thursday was no bizarre wake-up name, as choose riders got the possibility within the early morning to ski Sugar Bowl’s legendary Palisades. These colossal spines sit within the upper-middle reaches of the resort, however not often open. Because of the onerous work of Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol, these finalists acquired to put down just a few relentless traces.
With shovels in hand, the crew hit the legendary Silver Belt Gully able to construct. The expertise of forging a course and having a say within the format of every characteristic is a part of what makes The Silver Belt such a novel and uncommon alternative for opponents. By Friday, it was time to enter the proverbial octagon, and the vibe was electrical. California sunshine poured over the resort and the 15 feminine and 25 male skiers chosen for finals headed for the beginning gate.
Course Define: Ranging from the highest, riders might hit a flat rail and head to the monster kicker, skier’s proper, or proceed to a technical part and ridge line skier’s left. Two booters have been positioned skier’s left as you progressed down the gully, adopted by a cliff part, a aspect hit and a closing cross-court kicker. The continued skier’s proper line transitioned into an non-obligatory hole (which was completely puckering), an excellent proper foot flip right into a left-facing soar, after which again to the ultimate cross-court kicker.
Watching 14-year-old groms go head-to-head with Freeride World Tour opponents isn’t one thing you see every single day, nevertheless it’s an ideal instance of how briskly freeskiing is progressing. Sure, skilled skiers like Ben Richards, Ross Tester and Sophia Schwartz all put down unbelievable traces, however to see younger weapons like Hannah Epsteyn, Indy Boyer and Angus Blackburn go toe-to-toe with skiers they appear as much as is one thing particular.
After every athlete had the possibility to put down two runs, the staff headed again to the bottom the place the movie crew rapidly labored to show round footage from every run. The perfect of the 2 runs was proven in entrance of everybody, and after ample cheers, votes have been solid by the finalists. Within the Ski Girls’s area, Tahoe locals Hannah Epsteyn and Indy Boyer claimed first and second place, respectively, with 2025 Queen of Corbet’s Ana Eyssimont taking residence third place. For the Ski Males, first place went to the Norwegian stallion Robert Ruud, with Kelly Hilleke taking second and Dillon Flinders snagging third.
Take a look at the athlete-voted outcomes and a full finals picture gallery under.
Don’t overlook to tune in to the FREESKIER Sugar Bowl Silver Individuals’s Selection vote over the approaching days! Watch the replay video and solid your vote for one of the best female and male skier.
Photographs: Jake Burchmore, Jordy Grant-Krenz
