The San Juan Freestyle Team is back in action and flying high.
The Durango-based team, led by private coach Josh Muzzy, launched the competitive season for 2012 at the United States Amateur Snowboard Association-sanctioned slopestyle competition at Purgatory.
Veteran San Juan Freestyle rider Joe Reed soared to first place in his division. And Matt “Chowda” O’Brien won the open division of the contest staged at the Paradise Terrain Park.
Reed is sponsored locally by Bubba’s Boards in addition to sponsors Burton Snowboards, Anon and Red.
The Purgatory park crew prepared the venue for the high-flying showdown.
The newest addition to the San Juan Freestyle Team, Thomas Taaca took second place after winning the Gatorade Free Flow Tour event in Vail earlier this season. Taaca also is sponsored by Burton, Red and Anon.
The finish positioned the three for the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain in April.
“These riders have trained at Breckenridge and Keystone this season on the best jumps in the world,” Muzzy said of the tough travel schedule to prep the riders. “But their heart and determination, along with the support from the parents, is amazing. We look to have a standout season with entire team.”
Muzzy, a 16-year employee with the Purgatory Ski and Ride School, started the team (SJFTeam.com) in 2003. He’s a coach of a national champion, a multiple U.S. Open qualifier and a two-year Dew Tour qualifier.
The San Juan Freestyle Team will compete at the next Gatorade Free Flow event in Brighton, Utah, before events at Keystone, Crested Butte and Aspen.
In Aspen, the riders will compete on the X Games course at Buttermilk.
The U.S. Open will be at Stratton, Vt., this year with the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain ending the season in April.
