The Durango Winter Sports Club snowboard program has had a packed few weeks of USASA competitions at Purgatory Resort. The athletes have been racing boardercross and doing freestyle tricks in the halfpipe, park and rails. Some of the snowboarders on the team showed their versatility and captured gold in several different disciplines.
On Feb. 11-12, Purgatory hosted a USASA Boardercross event for the first time in more than 10 years, creating a course specifically for the event.
“DWSC athletes had a great showing and loved the exciting racing format,” head snowboard coach Cody Beaver said.
Jaylee Grady, Ella Grady and Trey Patrum all finished with a pair of first-place finishes in their divisions. Grey Seren also had a first-place finish while Reece Bird finished fifth and then first. Lilly Anderson placed second twice, Alexandra De Feyter finished second and third, Brooks De Feyter placed third and sixth, Colt Hammit placed third and Conor Haughey also finished third.
Purgatory also hosted three USASA Halfpipe competitions during Presidents Day weekend. DWSC snowboarders again laid down some solid runs to score numerous podiums. Jaylee and Ella Grady finished first in all three halfpipe competitions. Hammit placed third in all three. Haughey finished second, first and third. Patrum, Bird and Anderson all had a second-place result while Antonio Munoz Ropotica also reached the podium with a third-place finish.
On Feb. 25-26, the athletes headed to the terrain park for a USASA slopestyle event and a rail jam. The coach said the Purgatory park crew did amazing work building a great venue for both competitions.
Ella Grady added two more golds to her collection with first-place finishes in both slopestyle and the rail jam. Jaylee Grady and Bird also won their slopestyle divisions while several others again reached the podium.
Patrum placed second in slopestyle and third in the rail jam.
Brooks De Feyter and Seren each finished second in both the slopestyle and the rail jam. Hammit also earned a third-place score in slopestyle while Alexandra De Feyter jibbed her way to silver in the rail jam
Many of the athletes from the DWSC snowboard program have also qualified for the USASA National Championships, and the team was hoping to add a few more. Nationals will be held Copper Mountain, with competitions beginning March 31.
A USASA competition in giant slalom and slalom will take place Saturday and Sunday at Purgatory.
“DWSC is thankful to have Purgatory as a home mountain; they are eager to support programs like these USASA competitions that allow our team members to stay close to home and get competition experience,” Beaver said. “With only one competition weekend left, the program has had a fun and successful season.”
