COPPER CITY, CO - Bridger Ski Foundation freeskiing athlete Jack Price finished third in the slopestyle competition at the United States of America Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) Nationals in Copper, Colorado, this week. Leading up to the final event of the season, Price had not skied in three weeks.
Price had been at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association’s Junior Nationals event in Sun Valley in March and was practicing for the finals with hopes of a podium finish when he over-rotated and caught his ski in slushy snow conditions, suffering a mild concussion.
Price arrived in Colorado for the USASA Nationals after three weeks of rest. “I really didn't know how my training was going to feel for me,” he admitted. “But, I had two-and-a-half days of training on the course, and I took a trip to Keystone, CO, for some extra jump practice, which helped a lot.” By competition day, he felt strong and ready.
On the first round, the slopestyle course proved slow and the majority of skiers came up short or fell on their runs. Price did a more reserved combination of tricks than he’d originally planned on his first run, but after officials salted the course to improve conditions, he knew he would need a higher score on the second run to make finals. “In the end I landed everything pretty flawlessly and the judges scored me with an 87.5, which qualified me second in my heat to finals and fourth overall,” recalled Price.
“Just making the finals was a really awesome feeling since these were my first few days back from a long break from skiing due to my concussion,” said Price. “At that point, the worst I could do was 10th, which was amazing in my books.”
Price said he couldn’t have been happier with how he skied in the finals. With all ten finalists landing their runs, Price claims “it was definitely the most fun and insane competition I had ever been a part of.”
Price scored an 82.4 on his final run with a switch rodeo 720 double-japan grab, to a switch unnatural misty 900 mute grab, to a double-corked 1080 safety grab. That placed him third among all junior men (ages 16-17).
“Just being able to ski with everyone was such an honor, and to be able to share the podium with my friends was the icing on the cake. It truly was a dream come true,” said Price.
The 17-year-old Bozeman High student has plans to pursue freeskiing full time next year and train with the Park City team.
“I came into this season feeling really strong from my dryland training with my BSF team and hitting the gym with my friends whenever I could, which helped tremendously,” says Price. (The Ridge provides the BSF Freestyle/Freeski team with membership access.)
“I would like to add a massive thank you to BSF for supporting me for the last three seasons. Their coaching, care, and opportunities they have given me have put me where I am today, and without them I would not have accomplished as much as I have with skiing.” Price also gives credit to the Team Park City United for their coaching help this season, as well as the support of his sponsors: Völkl skis, Saga Outerwear, Giró helmets and goggles, Marker Bindings, and Dalbello Boots. And Price adds, “Which leads me to a huge thank you to my mom, dad, little brother Luke, and all of my friends who inspire me every day.”
Photos courtesy of Caroline Price
