No shit there I was... atop a near vertical face, charging into two blind cliff bands on the last competition of the year. Knew this final competition could boost my world standings for the Freeride World Qualifier series. Day one: Qualifier morning, I checked out two possible runs during inspection on the lookers right side of the venue. As I passed through, I realized that the two options I visually inspected the day before were both not possible in the current conditions. Due to the weather leading up to the event, it made a lot of the landings and high speed areas full of icy chundery snow with 5 cm of fresh. Not ideal when your trying to find the most technical, steepest, high energy line to stomp in competition. Made the best informed decision to change my entire run and ride where the most preserved snow would be. It was a toss up, but willing to risk riding an unexplored zone in hopes of finding the winning line.
Kicking horse is one of the most savage ski fields in British Columbia; full of tight exposed chute with steep terrain in every direction. If you don't do it this year, you'll just be one year older when you do.
Shot from Kicking Horse resort looking down the Columbia River
Photo: Zach Husted
Wrangle The Chute FRWQ 4* venue
Photo Zach Husted
Mens snow starting gate with the town of Golden, BC in the background.
Photo: Zach Husted
My drop was middle of the Mens snow pack and gave me a chance to see where some others went. I dropped and made my way down the ridge into a nice double to start. The first hit was perfect snow with a quick set-up into the second next to the tree you see below. Had a good sight of the landing but turned out it was skied out as piss. Didn't crash but a loss of control with one hand down. Came out hissing and made my way down the the final main air. Snow was manageable through the highest traffic area of the venue with minimal fresh turns. The final air was chosen by nearly every athlete to wrap up their run.. Now being scattered with bomb holes, I went for pure distance. Again, had to push my way through roughed up debris and had a big heel-side carve to keep myself balanced and on my board. Knew this wasn't my greatest performance but that is the thing about competitions.. You are purely judged on your execution for those 40 seconds on venue. Got to make it count ! If you are having an off day or not feeling like sending it in hateful snow conditions.. Someone else will and just maybe one of those individuals will stomp it..
Zach Husted's Qualifier run down Terminator 1 North Face "Truth and Dare".
Photo: Zach Husted