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Phil Hudec dazzles to 1st in freeskiing qualifiers at Revelstoke ... VIDEO BONUS

Jan. 7, 2011 — Freeskiing World Tour      ♦ Photo: Men's qualifying action in difficult conditions Friday (Paul Morrison)

REVELSTOKE, B.C. — After being on hold due to low visibility, the men completed the qualifier day of the Subaru Canadian Freeskiing Championships at Revelstoke Mountain Resort on Friday. The snow was not the only thing dropping out of the air as the men went huge and took their shot at scoring high in the new style category. Saturday, check out the live broadcast of the day one at freeskiingworldtour.com. Broadcast begins at 10 a.m. PST.

Coming in first place with a score of 37.53 was Canada’s Phil Hudec. Judge Dash Longe remarked, “His run is exactly what I’ve been telling everyone it’s all about. He had a similar line score to everyone else but he skied more creatively, he hit the same features, but he set himself up with his fluidity, he spun a super clean 3, and he rocked the bottom section different than anyone else. He skied the trees really fast and fluid, he went really far left near the finish and had some great pow slashes. His line really stood out, it was creative, he stomped his airs and he skied the entire venue really strong, fast and with great technique.”

Right behind Hudec with a score of 34.50 was fellow Canadian and Revelstoke local Alex Wall. Rounding out the top three was American Kyle Taylor with a score of 33.83. The top three skiers highlighted the new style category by throwing tricks such as back flips, sticking their landings and skiing fluid, challenging lines.

The new style category was showcased all day as a plethora of tricks were thrown down. “From multiple competitors throwing back flips off the kicker at the bottom, to 360s through the trees in Satan’s Alley, the athletes really stepped up to the challenge of the style category,” said announcer Max Kuzaij.

The top 20 athletes from Friday’s qualifier move into the first day of world tour competition Saturday to compete with such prequalified heavy hitters as Cliff Bennet, Julien Lopez and Griffin Post. The live webcast promises to showcase the best big-mountain skiers in the world as they battle it out on more than 60 cm of new snow for bragging rights as the Canadian freeskiing champion. S-Magazine

Subaru Canadian Freeskiing Championships, men's qualifying results

Result    Number    Name     Home Mountain    Country    Score

1    88    Phil Hudec    Lake Louise    CAN    37.53
2    87    Alex Wall    Revelstoke    CAN    34.50
3    50    Kyle Taylor    Whitefish    USA    33.83
4    81    Colston VB    Rossland    CAN    33.67
5    22    Christian Mandahl    Snowbird    USA    32.73
6    47    Ryan Walters    Bridger Bowl    USA    31.50
7    93    Collin Collins    Sun Valley    USA    31.27
8    56    Spencer Brinson     Kirkwood    USA    30.77
9    6    Sam Cohen    Alta    USA    30.50
10    86    Lucas Gonnthier    Revelstoke    CAN    30.20
11    21    Michael Legare    Blackcomb    CAN    30.13
12    14    Silas Chickering Ayers    Mad River Glen    USA    29.77
13    12    Matt Luczkow    Vail    USA    29.73
14    4    Nick Leboe    Silver Star    CAN    28.93
14    5    Ryan Kappler    Revelstoke    CAN    28.93
16    85    Benjamin Ogilvie    Fernie    CAN    28.63
17    38    Randy Evans    Crested Butte    USA    28.43
18    51    Sean Cochrane    Revelstoke    CAN    28.33
18    44    Gord Spurgeon    Revelstoke    CAN    28.33
20    23    Micahel Gardner    Telluride    USA    27.83

Cut Off
                   
21    7    Yu Sasaki    Whistler    JAP    27.40
22    91    Josh Lankin    Ragged Mountain    USA    27.23
23    45    Henry Worobel    Montana Backcountry    USA    27.00
24    10    Nathan Heintz    Red Mountain    CAN    26.67
25    27    Andreas Hasselbeck    Whistler    CAN    26.50
26    18    Laurent Gauthier    Blackcomb    CAN    26.23
27    89    Richard Wrangel    Revelstoke    CAN    26.10
28    59    Lange Adams    Aspen    USA    25.93
29    60    Ben Paciotti    Squaw Valley    USA    25.83
30    57    Cam Doane    Snowbird    USA    25.47
31    58    Max Krone    Sugarbowl    USA    25.07
32    9    Jason Astle    Alta     USA    25.00
33    92    Tommy Ellingson    Mt. Baldy    CAN    23.23
34    83    Todd Thomley    Pine Ridge    CAN    21.20
35    55    Parker Doane    Snowbird    USA    20.50
36    31    Josh Daiek    Kirkwood    USA    20.03
37    53    Jake Sakson    Aspen/Snowmass    USA    18.03
38    2    Benjamin Kelley    Mt Baker    USA    16.43
39    30    Scott Hanichen    Squaw Valley    USA    15.60
40    28    Brett Dawley    Powder Kind    CAN    15.27
40    25    Conor Davis    Sun Valley    USA    15.27
42    13    Richard Small    Fernie    CAN    15.17
43    61    Rasmus Ekmran    Rattuks Backen    SWE    14.97
44    16    John Parker    Squaw Valley    USA    14.47
44    90    Rory Camm    Treble Cone    NZ    14.47
46    17    Jason Frazier    Snowbird    USA    13.80
47    35    John Hejna    Snowbird    USA    13.60
48    42    Daryn Edmunds    Alta/Snowbird    USA    13.47
49    48    Gabriel Oulsch    Bridger Bowl    USA    13.07
50    39    Greg Fitzsimmons    Aspen / Ajax    USA    13.00
51    36    Josh Anderson    Squaw Valley    USA    12.93
52    43    Roy Schott    Mt. Olympus    CAN    11.90
53    19    Eric Young    Cypress    CAN    11.47
54    11    Austin Foote    Stratton    USA    10.53
54    1    Todd Mansfield    Castle Mountain    CAN    10.33
54    62    Torstein Borresen    Varingskollen    NOR    10.33