TR: Taos Comp Qualifier

**skiingislife** · 03-01-2007, 10:12 PM

Skiers: Sean, Doug

We left the Front Range with deep powder in the forecast, and headed south to the Sangre De Cristos.

Mt. Princeton @ 55mph

NM desert.

We arrived in Taos at 11am. It was dry, windy, and the snow was firm. We awoke to 4" of new snow this morning.

Todays Game.

Part of tomorrow's venue.

To Be Continued.

**summit** · 03-01-2007, 10:16 PM

I think I really need to ski Taos

Good luck!

**iskibc** · 03-01-2007, 10:19 PM

Good luck Doug. The venue looks like fun. Keep us posted.

**gamma** · 03-01-2007, 10:23 PM

GOOD LUCK! Taos is $$$

**ill-advised strategy** · 03-01-2007, 11:24 PM

make sure you check those landings before you send it...there's a lot of sharks in there.

**alberta_hoser** · 03-01-2007, 11:29 PM

Venue looks sick, GIVE'R!

**f2f** · 03-01-2007, 11:31 PM

good luck! damn i love taos. looks like more snow than last weekend

**Deep Days** · 03-02-2007, 12:09 AM

Many wishes of the best of luck. Somehow I don't think you'll have much trouble doing well...

**KillingCokes** · 03-02-2007, 12:41 AM

Kill it Doug

**shera** · 03-02-2007, 07:32 AM

Excellent!

**Vicious** · 03-02-2007, 10:09 AM

Kick some ass D!

Venue 2 looks SICK!

**Henoir** · 03-02-2007, 10:24 AM

good luck dude. you have no idea how jealous i am. stuck in england Taos is my spiritual home. Skied those lines so many times and loved every powdery second of it!!!
best of luck, let us know how it goes

**beaterdit** · 03-02-2007, 11:09 AM

$lay that $hit!

**Tatsuno** · 03-02-2007, 05:03 PM

Yeah! Kill it! The conditions look PRIMO! Let us know how it went down today!

**ANON-505** · 03-02-2007, 05:17 PM

whats the story up there?

Where is the venue tomorrow? Is the rest of the ridge still open to non-competitors? Two years ago during the comp everything on the ridge was closed during the comp...even the terrain not around the venue.

Is that the case this year?

**ggski** · 03-02-2007, 07:28 PM

Let em fly Doug!!!

**taoslcl** · 03-02-2007, 09:24 PM

Haven't been able to make it up for anything yet but I heard it has been cold as hell and windy. The plan is for the finals tomorrow to be off Kachina Peak for the 1st time ever. It's been closed all week so it should be fairly soft plus it just started to snow in town so I'm guessing there will be some powder tomorrow. Good luck everyone......you guys rock...I've seen some shit skied in to comps that I never thought possible.

**Altaholic** · 03-02-2007, 11:41 PM

Do you have any results from today? I wanna know how my altabird buddies have placed. I can't seem to find the results online

.

**Alkasquawlik** · 03-03-2007, 07:15 AM

All that I know is that my girlfriend is in first fucking place going into today!

**twodogs** · 03-03-2007, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Alkasquawlik

All that I know is that my girlfriend is in first fucking place going into today!

Pictures Puhlease!!

**taoslcl** · 03-03-2007, 08:48 AM

Looks like this is all thats out there right now:

http://freeskier.com/freeskier/news.php?news_id=917

Qualifying Day: 2007 New Mexico Extreme Freeride Championships, Taos, NM
Posted yesterday

Day one of the 2007 New Mexico Extreme Freeride Championships at Taos went off in prime fashion thanks to a fast moving storm that coated the venue in new snow. Day one was a qualifying day, with the money rounds starting tomorrow, Friday, March 2, 2007, the finals will take place on Taos’ famed Kachina Peak on Saturday, March 3, 2007.

While qualifying points are zeroed out once the money rounds start, the results today indicated that there are a few athletes that should stand up well when they face tougher competition. Highlights included local skier Mike Holmquist’s clean, fluid line, Teague Holmes’ aggressive, smooth skiing and George Casaletta’s big airs.

While today started calm and balmy, with sunny skies and 6-8 inches of fresh snow coating the venue, the weather quickly bared its teeth, with winds creating ground blizzards in the event village and making visibility tough at times. Still, the wind allowed the venue to “refresh” keeping conditions prime for the 80 strong field.

“We knew we wanted snow to improve the conditions on the venue,” said Head Judge Jim Jack, referring to the weather. We got what we asked for and then some.”

But while the weather threatened to steal the show, it was the Junior athletes who stepped up and made the biggest statement of the day. If these athletes are the future of skiing, get an extra pair of shades, because the future looks very, very bright indeed.

Perhaps the biggest impression was made by Brandon Clabaugh. This Aspen based athlete charged a technical line on the Zdarsky side of Taos’ West Basin venue, ending his run with a solid 30-foot air which was cleanly stomped. Rebecca Lefanowicz also made a statement that she’s someone to watch in the future, skiing a gnarly, rock strewn line and hitting a mandatory air. The effort put the Sugar Bowl, California, athlete into a prime spot to get a top-of-the podium finish in the JR Women’s field.

For the women, Elyse Saugstad made a case that she's a lady to watch as the final rounds get under way. Saugstad will face off against a talent packed women’s field including Norway’s Marte Lise Karlsen, Aspen local Carrie Jo Chernoff, Canada’s Janina Kuzma and Jackson Holes’ Jess McMillan. All four of those athletes had a bye today, and will start chasing their share of the $10,000 purse when the money round commences on Thursday, March 2.

“I think that the field is stacking up,” adds Jim Jack. “I like the locals, they are really throwing down and they are going to shine. The new snow will also open up some options for the athletes and I am excited with the caliber of the skiing we saw today.”

**AKA** · 03-03-2007, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by the Mad

Pictures Puhlease!!

nekkid..

**TBski** · 03-03-2007, 01:44 PM

Extreme Freeride....that is freeride at it's most extreme, the best of the 80's , 90's and 00's. It makes me want to extreme freeride ski...uhh I mean extreme freeride ride!