CRESTED BUTTE — Crested Butte breeds rippers, as evidenced Friday in the qualifying round for the 20th annual Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Championships. Under greybird skies on the area’s famed Headwall, 17 Crested Butte skiers made the cut of 35 total skiers whittled from a field of 96 competitors.
Among the final 21 men who will compete in today’s finals, 11 hail from Crested Butte.
Rob Dickinson, 31, a longtime CB skier who qualified fifth, said this year’s heavy snows have enabled local skiers to push themselves on harder terrain earlier in the season. They are well prepared.
“A lot of these guys in the finals, they are part of our crew and we push each other really hard. It’s been a great season for that,” he said.
Local legends Ryan Sutton — a veteran of the extreme comp podium — and Alex Norton topped the gent’s qualifying list. Among the ladies, Emiko Torita of Winter Park and Kele Thorsen of Crested Butte took first and second in the qualifying round.
“It helps so much that I ‘m from here,” said Francesca Pavillard, a Crested Butte native who qualified 4th in the ladies division.
Scott Kennett of Telluride and CB’s own Mike Preston finished at the top of the Master’s division.
Today, the athletes will ski down Crested Butte’s rock-choked Staircase. Sunday’s super finals will be in Crested Butte’s famed Spellbound Bowl.
“That’s the reward, Spellbound,” Dickinson said. “The snow out there is so good.”
Check back to for daily updates from the U.S. Freeskiing Championships.
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374 or jblevins@denverpost.com
