The Canadian Open Freeskiing Championships concluded Saturday, and though Mount Roberts was fogged in for the last two days, there was fresh snow on the slopes to inspire the competitors.
The top 5 men and women received prize money to a total cash purse of $10,000.
Canmore’s Julie Thomas took first in the Senior Female category, with top scoring runs all three days.
In the Senior Men’s category the battle for first to fourth came down to the wire, with only a slight margin of points putting Adam McCraw, from Lake Louis, ahead. Laurent Gauthier, Richard Small and Luke Nelson all finished with less than a point separation.
“The event was one of the best yet,” Erik Kalacis, Red Mountain Resort’s general manager, said. “The conditions were great and the team worked together to finish the 2012 Canadian Open.
There were a lot of volunteers involved in the event to make both the junior and senior events happen; a big thanks to their efforts. Thanks as well to all the competitors. We’re looking forward to a bigger and better event next year”.
Jeff Holden, the Canadian Open’s head judge, echoed the enthusiasm.
“There was some great skiing on the slopes of Mount Roberts,” Holden said. “We had a really tight race at the end.”