Etienne Geoffroy’s last two hits on the rails made the difference at the Icebreaker Railjam hosted by the Yukon Freestyle Ski Association on Saturday at Mount Sima.
The 16-year-old slid into the top spot of the open male division with a pretzel 270, a trick he doesn’t often pull off.
“I think the big trick was a 270 on and then a pretzel 270,” said Geoffroy. “I think that’s what did it for me. I landed it once in the park, and somehow it pulled through for me on the last couple of hits there.”
It was Geoffroy’s first time winning the open division at the fourth annual event. Last year, he won the under-15 division and placed third in open behind Calahan Guidolin, who was third this year.
“I’m absolutely stoked. I’ve never had a cheque this big,” said Geoffroy, gesturing towards the oversized cheque that was part of his winnings. “I’m happy to start off the season like this.”
For the win Geoffroy defeated Yukon teammate and second-place finisher Josh Harlow, who won the open division last year and in 2010.
Former Yukon team skier Anna Smith, 19, won the open female division riding the tricky urban tube landing switch.
“I’m just really happy. It’s more fun than anything to see all the girls out, there’s more girls every year,” said Smith.
“Last year I went traveling so I didn’t really have a ski season. The season before that I hurt my knee, so I was out for a little bit too.”
Smith won four medals at the Arctic Winter Games and a silver and bronze at the B.C. Freestyle Championships in 2010.
Jacob Finton won under-12 with a clean ride down the challenging urban rail.
Kyran Allen took the under-15 division with a 270 on and a 270 off switch.
Steven Harlow topped the masters division with a 270 onto the urban rail.
Last season was a big one for the Yukon Freestyle Ski Association. Josh Harlow captured Yukon’s first-ever national medal with a bronze at the Canadian Junior Freestyle Ski Championships in March. Geoffroy placed seventh in the slopestyle for M3 (ages 14-15) at the nationals.
This year’s Icebreaker Railjam did not include snowboard divisions.
Top-three results
Under-12
1st Jacob Finton
2nd Cole Beaman
3rd Brodie Ferland
Under-15
1st Kyran Allen
2nd Niko Rodden
3rd Argus Huggard
Female
1st Anna Smith
2nd Lyndsey Boorse
3rd Sara Burke-Forsyth
Masters
1st Steven Harlow
2nd Sam Schirmer
3rd Lynn McDiarmid
Open
1st Etienne Geoffroy
2nd Josh Harlow
3rd Calahan Guidolin
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com