Freestyle Skiing AND THE COMPETITIVE PATHWAY
In order to participate in organized Freestyle Skiing contests in Ontario, you need to be with a level appropriate certified coach and part of a registered Freestyle Ski coaching program with both the provincial and national governing bodies.
The Senders fills out these requirements and provides training and a pathway through the competitive levels to the Provincial Freestyle Ski Team. We are the next step up from a development program like Park Labs, or a Private Ski Club Freestyle program like those that participate in The Groms series.
Park Labs and Private Clubs start at This Level
Grassroots events
Park Labs Series, The Groms Series (Private Club Series). This is the first stage of contests in the Freestyle Ski realm in Ontario, where Skiers are able to take their first steps into the Competitive Freestyle World in a small and non-intimidating Slopestyle course. Private club members have the option to compete in The Groms Series, but these are not available to those outside of the Private Clubs. Our partner and development program Park Labs, is initiating a multi-stop contest series for participants of their programs to enter, beginning this 2024-25 Winter Season. Those who are based in and participating in the Bunsen Level Park Labs programs at locations such as Mt. St. Louis-Moonstone or Lakeridge, will have the opportunity to compete in these events and take their first steps in Freestyle Competition. We work closely with both Park Labs and many of the Private Clubs. The best Skiers and program participants at the end of this series, may be at the level where they receive an invite to graduate up to The Senders for our open spots, so that they have a complete connected and familiar pathway, all the way through their competitive journey.
Typical runs in a Park Labs or Groms Series Event
Small rotations and straight airs with grabs, Basic box and rail tricks
Park Labs Course Sizes
Small jumps in the sub 10ft size range, small box and rail features with low consequences.
The Timber Tour and Provincials
Skiers on our team participate in The Timber Tour Series, which generally features three, full three day, Friday to Sunday events over the season. Two of these are regular stops and the third is the Provincial Championships. All the events consist of a Friday training day, followed by a double up contest, allowing for potentially up to 6 events over the season in a condensed timeframe. These events take place at resorts in Ontario, usually Southern Ontario with the occasional stop in the Ottawa region. Most dedicated program participants would likely need a minimum of at least 3 years on the program before they would be ready for a level above the Timber Tour.
Typical runs in a Timber tour event
Due to the size and nature of the jumps in Timber Tour courses, the highest scoring runs tend to cap out at around 720 degrees of rotation, often inverted with occasional 900s in the older age categories. All Freestyle Skiers who are competing, need to go through a specific process with appropriately certified coaches, to learn and certify their inverted manoeuvres, in order for them to be allowed in contests. Typical highest end rail runs cap out with 270s on and out.
Timber Tour Course Size
Timber Tour courses usually feature jumps in the 15ft to 20ft range. This is the distance that needs to be cleared in order to make it to the landing. The rails and boxes are often side-entry. You can get a preview and idea of the sizes and makeup of the courses in the video below.
The Provincial Team Starts around this Level
The Next Level Up, JR Nationals, Step-Up and Canada Cups
Once you have maxed out your results on the Timber Tour, you may be granted a starting spot in the next level up of events that take place across Canada. Ontario is granted a certain number of quota spots and they are assigned based on a Skiers ranking in the points system, with priority given to provincial team members. The Provincial organization runs down the points list, allocating additional stating spots to the next person on the list, until the quotas expire. Junior Nationals maintains age categories, Canada Cups on up, dispense with age categories and everyone is competing against the full field.
Canada Cup/Step Up/JR Nationals Typical Winning Runs
The winning runs in a Canada Cup are very much relevant to the course size, build quality and quality of the field. The bigger the course build, the more technical manoeuvres can be expected with double and potentially triple inverted manoeuvres usually on the podium, sometimes all the way up to 1440 and beyond in the big airs, in the biggest course builds. A typical Ontario stop caps out around Double Cork 1080. Winners of these events are lifetime skiers who have been through coaching from a young age and are usually in their late teens. Most Canada Cup participants would also be at the level where they are on their Provincial Freestyle Ski Team, of which we are a pathway program for.
Course Size
In Ontario you can expect jumps of up to 40ft, larger when out of province. Rails that are considerably higher consequence and higher off the ground are often in these courses. You can see what to expect in a typical Ontario Canada Cup course below..
The Provincial Team Usually Ends at This Level
The Senders usually ends at This Level
The Canadian Next Gen Team Starts at this Level
Continental Cups and Junior World Championships
FIS NorAms, Europa Cups, ANCs, South America Cups, Junior World Championships
The Next level up consists of the qualifying series for the FIS World Cup Tour, known as the Continental Cup Series. Canada and the United States (Rev Tour) split a tour known as the North America Cup (NorAm). Europe features a tour known as the Europa Cup. South America has the South America Cup and Australia and New Zealand have the Australia/New Zealand Cup (ANC). Starting spots in these events are almost always exclusively reserved for members of the Canadian National Team program, and more specifically Next Gen team members. Next Gen is the introductory Canadian National Team program for participants who are at a maximum age of 18 years old for their first season on the team. The Junior World Championships also takes place every season, with a certain number of spots awarded to each country, based on their current athlete combined FIS rankings. Each country is responsible for selecting their athletes, with most of the starters usually coming from the Next Gen program. The winners of each circuit and the Junior World Championships, get their own starting spot in every event on the FIS World Cup Tour the following season, in addition to a countries existing starting spots.
Continental Cup, Junior World Championships Typical Winning Runs
Continental Cups have a significantly higher level of Skiing with an international start list of all the next up and coming competitive skiers from each country, mixed in with some occasional national team members. If the course build is large enough, you can expect the same level of skiing as you would see on the World Cup circuit. Most countries Junior Development programs follow these circuits. You can expect to see every feature and the available amount of air time to be fully utilized with the most technical tricks possible and at the leading edge of Skiing in these courses.
Typical Course Size
40ft - 60ft plus sized jumps, high consequence and technical rail features.
The Canadian Next Gen Team Usually Ends at this Level
FIS World Cup Tour, FIS World Championships, X Games, Dew Tour, Industry Core Events
The Top of the contest circuit now predominantly follows the FIS World Cup circuit. The FIS World Cup circuit features a number of stops in Slopestyle, Big Air and Halfpipe over the season in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere Seasons. At the end of the season, the tour champions are crowned and presented with a Crystal Globe as the tour series winner for the year. Every 2 years a separate FIS World Championships is held, although it usually has less competitors and is not as difficult to take a win here, as it is with the overall series. There are also a multitude of Core skiing events that are invite only and usually pulled from the best skiers on either the competitive circuit, or those who are pursuing a filming career in Skiing. These events often have creative formats, courses and are well liked by Skiers, as they are often designed and ran by the participants themselves.
Quotas and Starting Spots
Every nation earns starting spots in World Cup events through a quota system. Which in it's most basic explanation relies on a certain number of spots earned for the season, based on the previous years performance, plus additional spots for Host Nations, Junior World Championship and Continental Cup Winners. Every 2 years the FIS World Cup tour starts the process of qualifying for the Olympics, with countries trying to earn the maximum number of starting spots that they can in the games, of which part of the process is ensuring that they have enough spots in the World Cups themselves in order to have that opportunity.
Level of Skiing
World Cups have the highest level of Skiing in the World, with an international start list full of established Professionals, career athletes and all the best of the next up and coming competitive skiers from each country. You can expect to see every feature and the available amount of air time to be fully utilized with the most technical tricks possible and at the leading edge of Skiing in these courses.
Typical Course Size
60ft -70ft + plus sized jumps, high consequence and technical rail features.
The Winter Olympics
The Olympics are now the Pinnacle event in most Competitive Freestyle Skiers careers. It's the one time where everyone from outside of the ski community turns their eyes and attention towards the hills and everyone in the hometown is paying attention. While there are many paths to travel down and highlights in a career, the Olympics now stands as it's own unique experience and with multiple Olympics now including Slopestyle, Halfpipe and now Big Air, there will always be a group of people dedciating a good portion of their skiing time working towards an Olympic Medal or starting spot.
Quotas and Starting Spots
Countries athletes earn a number of starting spots up to the maximum set for each country, based on how well they have done on the World Cup circuit in the two years leading up to the event. The governing body for each nation sets out their own list of criteria to be filled before they select their team members.
Level of Skiing
What can you say, athletes often unveil NBDs in the contest in the hopes they can walk away with a medal. Along with the X-Games, the Olympics remains at the top of the event pile, showcasing highest level of Freestyle Skiing thought to be possible at the time.
The Canadian National Team Starts at this Level
The Senders Starts at This Level