The Purgatory Freestyle Ski Team went to Telluride last week for the season’s inaugural competitive event and collected several first-place ribbons. The Purgatory skiers, aged 8 to 14 years old, competed in the Developmental and Qualifier Series events with teams from Aspen, Pajarito, Steamboat Springs, Summit County, Telluride, Winter Park and Vail.

Hunter Rawles led the team in Saturday’s Rocky Qualifier Series event and soared to a first-place finish. With 74.10 points, Rawles led the group of 48 boys by a margin of nearly three points after pulling off a unique iron cross-spread eagle jump. Steamboat’s Ryan King came in second with 71.16.

Durango skier Freddie Mickel earned a spot on the podium with a third-place finish in his age group. Megan Faherty placed third in the U-15 age group and sixth overall in a field of 17 girls. Nina Quayle skied to a fifth-place finish for U-13 girls, while Jaden Kirk placed 16th in U-13 boys. Kai Skowlund, Ryan Bell and Aiden Quayle found a bumpy ride down the icy course all finishing in the lower half of their age groups.

The second day of competition had 51 Devo competitors participate. The performance of the day belonged to 9-year-old Amara Kirk. Kirk earned the highest score of the day and a first-place finish in the U-11 girls age group.

Lucy Klotz also had a day to remember with a first-place effort in the U-13 girls age group. Chase Connors’ helicopter earned him a first-place in the U-11 boys group, with Balin Kirk joining Connors on the podium with a second-place finish. Corbett Thomas and Finn Skowlund rounded out the age group in eighth and 13th place.

The successful weekend helped Purgatory’s competitors earn qualification points for the Rocky Mountain Qualifier Series/Devo State Championships at Purgatory in March. The next competition for the freestyle team will be January 28 and 29, as Purgatory will host teams from around the state in the Mild to Wild Mogul Challenge.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com