by Kim Cressey
Three Central Alberta athletes were among 179 who competed in the Canadian Junior Nationals for freestyle skiing at Apex Mountain beginning Mar. 13.
Training began for all four disciplines, Slopestyle, Single Moguls, Big Air and Dual Moguls.
Dustin Cressey, a Grade 11 student at H. J. Cody, and his sister Bryana Cressey, a Grade 9 student at H. J. Cody, both train and ski with Winsport Academy out of Canada Olympic Park.
Megan Cressey, a Grade 7 student at Fox Run School, competed as well. She trains with Central Alberta Freestyle Ski Club based at Canyon Ski Hill.
Thursday was the Slopestyle event and a lot of talent was present with all of the competitors skiing hard. Bryana Cressey stomped her first run of the day. It was good enough to win the F3 category and win the female side overall.
However, Dustin and Megan struggled to get a clean run in.
Saturday was the Big Air event, where skiers pick their choice of jumps and used only one trick to compete. Megan Cressey landed a big front flip to win the F4 category and third overall in the female division. Bryana Cressey landed a back flip to place third in the F3 division. Dustin Cressey landed a BIO 1080 and took second place in the M2 category.
Alberta athletes dominated the podium in all four disciplines, it was exciting to watch the best of the under 19 year olds compete.
Apex Freestyle Club hosted an excellent event!