Freestyle athletes at Copper Mountain at the USASA National Championships in April. Photo provided.
During spring break, the Northwood Freestyle team went out West to Copper Mountain, Colorado, to compete in the USASA National Championships. They had a great time. It was Yosef Spear’s ’26 first time at Nationals and his first time skiing out West. This is his first year of freestyle, so he was happy to have made it into Nationals. Clayton Fuller had his second go at Nationals. Last year, Fuller made it and went but, sadly, got a bad concussion on the first day out there. He says his experience this year was great, though. He had high hopes for Skier Cross, expected to do well in Slope Style, and just wanted to give a battle for Rail Jam.
Fuller’s outstanding performance deserves special mention. He secured an impressive 2nd place in the Nation for Skier Cross in the 15-22 men’s age group, a remarkable achievement. His success in Slope Style, where he placed 26 out of 80 men in the same age group, further underscores his talent and dedication.
The freestyle skiers out West are insane compared to the eastern skiers. This is because of their much longer seasons, better facilities, bigger teams, and they devote their whole life to freestyle skiing.
Yosef only qualified for rail jam and wasn’t expecting to place highly. He was mostly there for the experience of skiing out West. He said it was great, and he wished he could have stayed longer. He placed 23rd in his heat for rail jam, which was about the middle of the pack. He went with a few buddies he had met through skiing, and he is very grateful to his friend Kenny and his family for letting him stay with them.
The team’s unwavering dedication to their sport was evident as they trained tirelessly all season for the Nationals. Their readiness and preparation were commendable, and the experience was not just a competition, but a testament to their passion and hard work. Everyone left the event unscathed, having had a memorable and enjoyable time.
