TW: So, Lizet, what are you looking forward to most with the Alpine Meadows Tele Freesking Championship?

Lizet: I’m really excited that it’s back here again, there’s no tele comp like this anywhere in California, and it’s such a big tele state and there’s such good snow that it’s good to get one back here. And with the event, I’m excited that it’s starting to turn into a real series. That’s good for competitors to track their points.


TW: This competition is open to anyone — amateur or pro — right?

Lizet: Yes it is. We’ll have one division for men over 18 years old, one division for women over 18 and then there’s a juniors division for girls and boys between 12 and 17 years old.


TW: Cool. What kind of prizes are available?

Lizet: There’ll be good cash prizes for first, second and third in both the men’s and women’s divisions and great gear prizes for the junior divisions. Our sponsors include Columbia, CW-X, Patagonia, FlyLow, Ortivox, Mountain Hardware, Garmont, Backcountry Access, Marmot, Kuhl, DaKine, G3, Rossignol, Clif Bar, Twenty Two Designs, Freestyle Watches, Moment Skis, New Belgium, and Alpine Meadows.


TW: How many competitors are you expecting to sign up?

Lizet: We’ve had a lot of inquiries, but most of our competitors will likely sign up on the day of the event, so it’s hard to tell exact numbers.


TW: How can you describe the lines that competitors will be skiing?

Lizet: Everybody’s line is going to be different. You can make your line as easy or as difficult as you want. Skiers will be judged in five areas: Line, Control, Fluidity, Agression, and Technique. You have to balance your line with what you know you can ski well. You have options to make jumps and you have some nooks and crannies you can squeeze yourself through to show your technical skill. There will be plenty of opportunity to show good telemark form.


TW: Do you have any advice for first-time competitors?

Lizet: Ski something that you can ski confidentally. You’re definitely better off skiing a clean line than skiing something too difficult and falling.

Who: Any Telemark skier can enter. Ages 12 and up.

Where: Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, venues: Key Hole & Buttress (weather and snow conditions pending)

When: Registration on Thursday, Feb. 26 (or online in advance); Qualifier on Friday, Feb. 27; Finals on Saturday, Feb. 28. Weather date is Mar. 1.

Fee: $200 per participant including a 2 days lift ticket for Friday and Saturday (or Sunday if one of the previous 2 days is cancelled). $130 without lift tickets (for those with an Alpine Meadows Full Season Pass)

Registration: Thursday, Feb 26th - Registration at Alpine Meadows Main Lodge.
Competitors may purchase a reduced lift ticket for $54 to ski Thursday with completed registration. Proof of health insurance required. Credit cards will not be accepted at Thursday registration. ATM machines are available. At registration, you will receive you 2-day lift ticket and bib.

Registration will close at 5 p.m. Mandatory Competitor Meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the Alpine Meadows Main Lodge. If you will not be able to register on Thursday, please register online, by contacting Lizet at lizetc@gmail.com.

Online registration requires paying with Paypal, and with guarantee you a spot (limit of 100 people for the event). An additional transaction fee of approximately $7 will be charge with use of Paypal. You will still have to sign the official waiver in person before competing, and provide proof of health insurance.

Competition Schedule:
Friday, Feb 27th
8:30 a.m. — Morning competitor meeting outlining any changes due to weather conditions.
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Potential inspection run or inspection from base of venue if less than 6 inch of fresh snow, no inspection if fresh snow!
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Qualification Run in fallowing order, JR, Women, Men. The order of each division is set by registration order.
4 p.m. — after party for competitors in Mezzanine bar (food and beverage available for
purchase). Photos from the day will be shown.
5 p.m. — announcement of finals competitors.

Saturday, Feb 28th
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. — Inspection from Parking lot.
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Final Run (JR, Women, Men, order based on points.)
1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. — Super Final (no JR, 4, 5 or 6 women, 10 men)
4 p.m. — after party for competitors in Mezzanine bar (food and beverage available for
purchase)
5 p.m. — Awards Ceremony, tons of gears from our sponsors even if you're not on the
podium! The top three of each categories will receive a Freestyle watch

Sunday, March 1st - Weather day in case we have to cancel one or two days due to bad weather.


Demos: Free telemark demos for everyone at the mountain on Saturday, Feb 28. Featuring skis by Karhu and boots by Garmont.