Jay Peak is throwing a freestyle event, and there will be more than $20,000 up for grabs.
The ski area in northern Vermont will host its 6th annual Real To Steel freeride and freestyle event on March 8. Competitors are encouraged to enter by February 28, 2025.
The hybrid event is for true all-terrain riders. Riders will be judged on line choice, fluidity, speed, trick selection, and style during the freeride portion of the event. Then, riders head to the terrain park to battle some rails.
Photo: Jay Peak
“For those looking to test and blend their freeride abilities on challenging upper mountain terrain and freestyle skills in the park, this is a truly unique event where you get to do both,” the event page says. “Competitors will run through both the extreme natural terrain and park sections of the course.”
The freeride portion of the contest will be held at The Office - Upper Can Am, underneath the Bonaventure Quad. The steel course will be held at the Rusch terrain park on Lower Can Am for those ages 15 and older. Riders 14 and younger will be at the Rabbit terrain park.
There will be two age divisions for men and women, and ski and snowboard, making up eight brackets total. Registration is limited to the first 75 competitors, and costs $80, plus a $45 competitor lift ticket.
Here’s the full schedule for the event:
- Registration & Bib Assignment - Bullwheel Bar @ Stateside | 7:45a - 8:45a
- Mandatory safety meeting @ Bullwheel Patio | 9:00a - 9:05a - To stay qualified, be there with your bib on.
- Course Inspection (for both courses) | 9:15a - 10:15a
- 1st run | 10:30a
- 2nd run | 1:00p
- Awards ceremony @ Bullwheel Patio
- Hit the Bullwheel Bar for après with live music from Sneaky Pete & the Core Shots 4:00p - 7:00p
The event should offer the biggest terrain in both worlds. The event page says that unless contestants are comfortable hitting cliff drops in un-groomed natural terrain, the event is not for them.
First place inners will win a Never Summer snowboard or a pair of Rossingol skis, as well as two 1-day lift tickets and two 1-day waterpark passes. Second place gets two 1-day Lift Tickets and two 1-day Waterpark passes, while third place just gets the waterpark passes.
There will also be a raffle for two Never Summer snowboards and two pairs of Rossignol skis, lift tickets, waterpark passes, and other prizes for all athletes who didn't podium in their bracket.
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