Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
CROWD-PLEASING EFFORT 鈥� Yukon snowboarder Tim Schirmer drew gasps and cheers from the crowd when he successfully pulled off a front flip during Tues- day's rail jam at the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks. Schirmer, 15, won a silver ulu in the event, his second medal of the Games.
It始s early, but Team Yukon has already won a whopping nine snowboarding medals at the Arctic Winter Games.
FAIRBANKS 鈥� It始s early, but Team Yukon has already won a whopping nine snowboarding medals at the Arctic Winter Games.
The team is pointing to Mount Sima and the terrain park built by Tyler Nichol as a major reason for its early success.
"We始ve definitely had a great facility to train on and Tyler始s been great with making the park and everything,鈥� said Reanne 麻豆社区ome, 16, who grabbed the territory始s first gold ulu in snowboarding at Tuesday始s rail jam event. She won a bronze ulu Monday in the slalom race.
"It definitely gives us a headstart,鈥� 麻豆社区ome said. "I始m hearing about some of the other riders, and they have to train in gravel pits or on little tiny hills. We始re definitely coming into this privileged because of Sima.鈥�
麻豆社区ome was just one of several Yukoners to impress the judges at yesterday始s rail jam event, where riders had their choice of six different rails on which to attempt tricks.
Tim Schirmer and Adam Waddington both won silver ulus for their efforts, while Rachel MacIntosh and Esa Suominen each took home bronze.
Schirmer始s trick bag included a front flip he successfully pulled off multiple times in front of the judges.
"It始s a pretty technical trick to do,鈥� the 15-year-old explained. "I felt I put it out there and was having a good day. My goal is to have fun and just ride.鈥�
Yukon coach Katrina Couch said her team始s start has been impressive.
On Monday, Waddington and Suominen each won silver in snowboard slalom, while Schirmer and 麻豆社区ome took bronze in the event.
"This team impresses me any time they do anything,鈥� Couch said. "We have a really strong team this year. I like to call them park rats.
They really, really enjoy doing the rail features and jumps and big air.
"This year, we始re kind of spoiled, because we actually have one of the nicest parks in western Canada at Mount Sima, thanks to Tyler Nichol,鈥� she added. "We始ve been training really hard, and we have some really good talent.鈥�
Today, the snowboard team will compete in a slopestyle race, followed by a big air event Thursday to wrap up their competition.
"They始re is an overall medal,鈥� said Couch. "So our athletes are competing in each one of the four events, but at the end, if they medal in each one of their events, they始d likely qualify for an overall medal at the end.鈥�
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