Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated: “Freeriding involves riders running through a face on the mountain they have not previously traversed in at least the last 72 hours,” and “competitors are given the chance to view the competition zone from the finish line and visualize their path before being taken to the top of the zone.”
Revelstoke Mountain Resort reached out to the Mountaineer after publication to clarify that as is “mandatory for all IFSA-sanctioned competitions, Revelstoke has a full physical venue inspection. There is no limited access to areas of the venue unless otherwise specified by the TD and head judge. Athletes must remain considerate of preserving snow in all areas of the venue, in particular in takeoff and landing zones, as well as technical or thin snow sections. On the morning of the event, they have an hour to do a full run-through of the course for inspection.”
Revelstoke’s freeride community will be showing off its talent and support as Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) hosts the International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association (IFSA) two-star and four-star qualifiers. The competitions are part of 60 different international freeride competitions that help athletes build their ranking on the Global Seeding List and eligibility for the Freeride World Tour.
Freeriding competition areas are often roped off in advance to keep conditions as unchanged as possible and to allow all competitors an even playing field.
Shifting snow and wind conditions, obstacles and possible crash spots from previous runs could change the line in the moment, pushing competitors to constantly adjust.
Revelstoke Mountaineer chatted with four local competitors about what Revelstoke’s North Bowl offers to freeriders.
Michaela Davis-Meehan – Snowboarder
Hailing from Australia and now calling Revelstoke home after a couple of seasons, Michaela Davis-Meehan ranks seventh in the Americas overall ranking. She previously won the 2023 freeride world tour at Kicking Horse. Revelstoke hosting the event lets her show off what she’s come to love about the mountain.
“There’s so much different terrain here – a lot of trees and chutes to explore,” Davis-Meehan explained. “There’s drops where you can progress from small to big and a lot of chutes to ride.”
While Davis-Meehan takes time at the bottom of the run to visualize what her lines will be and the overall route to take, she’s all too aware how that line looks can be vastly different once she starts at the top of the face.
“During my inspection I’m looking for landmarks, features I can base location off of, and then having a plan B, a plan C and just being ready to adapt,” she said. “You have to get creative.”
Once at the bottom of the hill, the attention turns to cheering on everyone else left to ride. Davis-Meehan said the focus is on supporting a community who all collectively love the sport.
“It’s just a big party. We’re all in this for the passion, no one’s in it for the big money. So we’re at the bottom cheering the next person on because you want to see that clean run. We all want to see the best folks can do.”
Katie Gibson – Skier
Having previously called Alberta home, Katie Gibson has called Revelstoke home for the last three years as she travels to compete in New Zealand and Japan as part of the freeride circuit. It’s a circuit she’s seen work hard to make sure every athlete gets their shot no matter the conditions.
“The competition organizers, the IFSA, really do their best to get our bets off the ground and make sure that everyone gets to compete.”
That work to make sure everyone gets a chance is a core part of the community riders have made amongst themselves as well, Gibson explained.
“It does become expensive. And the only way that we’re all able to afford doing this is most of the competitors will get together and share housing…we’ll carpool and sort of get together on other expenses.”
Previously, Davis-Meehan and her coach brought Gibson along to Chile for summer training, an opportunity Gibson said helped make it possible for everyone. Partner the comradery with a sport high in risk and Gibson noted everyone is hoping for clean lines for everyone else. A crash or injury is not a point of celebration.
“We are all very concerned when we do see a crash. It’s not like everybody’s cheering at the bottom because you’re one step closer.”
Calum MacAllister – Skier
Originally hailing from Scotland, Calum MacAllister has called Revelstoke home base after coming to appreciate how much the mountain offers even for those only accessing the two main lifts.
“There’s so much of this mountain, you can really grow and explore a lot of different terrain even just from the tops of those two chairs,” he said.
But the freeriding community has also allowed him to explore other regions in the area alongside riders, coaches and fans of the sport.
“Last season, I was able to hop in a car with some other guys who were going to other comps,” MacAllister explained, detailing how there was always somewhere at the next resort or town to crash, whether folks opened up a room or even a couch.
Locals often helped secure lift passes for him to get a feel for the general mountain before competition day.
“I think because we’re all in the same boat, we’re all trying to help each other, help make it more affordable and more achievable.”
That feeling of support for everyone on the hill can be found at all levels of the sport, MacAllister explained. Coaching youth riders, he’s seen first hand the way riders, even from other clubs, help others in the community.
“Last year I watched one of the kids that I coach, during his run, absolutely explode off a feature that he was hitting. Right away he was calling a fellow competitor. And not just a competitor, but from a different club. But calling him and telling him how to hit that feature in a way not to crash. Because everyone wants to see that amazing run, everyone wants to see everyone do well.”
Cameron Whitaker – Snowboarder
While Cameron Whitaker might have originally called Sun Peaks his snow home, he said Revelstoke is a prime mountain to learn freeriding on.
“This mountain is perfect for freeriding. It’s kind of the way it’s set up with how much natural terrain is around to access,” Whitaker explained, noting the various cliff chutes and jump opportunities provide endless creativity for each run.
“I’m always trying to get into those terrain features, it really influences the way I ride around Revelstoke.”
Come competition time, Whitaker said confidence comes not so much from whether you can ride the line you imagined, but confidence that you can pull off whatever line plays out.
“Depending where you are in the order, a lot of people could go in front of you. So, the way you looked at it might not be the way you ride it. You just have to have confidence in yourself that you’re gonna be able to pull it off even though it might not look exactly the same way when you did inspection.”
RMR hosts the IFSA two-star qualifier Sunday, Jan. 22, with the first competitor on the course at 10 a.m. and awards ceremony at 5 p.m. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the riders from the spectator zone, located at the bottom of Separate Reality. RMR hosts the IFSA four-star qualifier Thursday, Jan. 25, with the first competitor on the course at 10 a.m. and awards ceremony at 5 p.m. The spectator zone will be located at the top of the Ripper chair.
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