Steven Harlow called it his finest day on skis.

Freestyle ski head coach Stuart Robinson said it was the highest level of skiing ever seen at Mount Sima – including the 2007 Canada Games.

The Yukon Freestyle Ski Championships held this weekend at the Whitehorse ski hill featured dazzling tricks a plenty, with yesterday's Big Air competition following a slopestyle event held Saturday.

Yesterday's event was held close to the chairlift, providing a spectacle for recreational skiers riding the chair to the top of the hill.

Harlow, 21, won the masters division crown by pulling off a trick he's never before completed.

"I did a couple of corked 900s and landed them both and just decided to go for switch misty,” he told the Star. "I didn't do it in warmup. I've never tried the trick before at all.

"I've never seen switch misty done on this hill,” he admitted. "I didn't think it was possible, really. Just to think about it was hard enough, let alone try it for the first time on snow on a jump like that. It was definitely the highlight of my year so far.”

Harlow usually serves as a coach for the younger athletes, but this time decided to strap on the skis and compete instead.

His first trick was a corked 900, just the second one he's landed this year.

"It's kind of nice because I never really get to go ski,” he said. "I always coach, so I'll do a trick here and again, but I never get to go throw down.”

Etienne Geoffroy took the 16-18 age category by one point over Harlow's younger brother, Josh.

Geoffroy said his victory was a result of old-fashioned hard work.

"Hard work pays off,” the 16-year-old said. "It's all about hard work, dedication and keeping at it.”

However, he also admitted surprise at his podium position.

"I thought I wasn't even going to be on the podium,” he admitted. "My first two hits I landed on the knuckle and I fell.

Then on my last two hits I pulled it together and did a switch bio-1080 blunt grab and a switch 1260.”

Geoffroy admitted he hadn't completed the two tricks in a while, but had to go big following his first two botched runs.

Winners of Saturday's slopestyle competitions included Miguel Rodden (19-and-over), Kyran Allen (16-18), and Lindsay Boorse (female).

Sunday's festivities also included a youth halfpipe race.

The Yukon will send a freestyle team to junior nationals in Quebec later this month.

On behalf of the freestyle team, Harlow thanked the community for its continued support of Mount Sima.

"I can't thank them enough,” he said. "We owe them for all the success we've been having.

"This season's been crazy,” he added. "We thought last year was one of the best seasons ever, but already this season it shows why we've won as many medals as we have this year.”

Robinson was impressed by the performances of his young ski team.

"You saw tricks that were in the Olympics today,” he said.

Robinson also had high praise for the newly-designed terrain park and creator Tyler Nichol.

"Having the facilities that Sima's been able to put together has given this team every opportunity,” he said. "All the B.C. events that we go to, we're generally in the top five, if not sweeping the podium.

"If they stick with these programs that are up here and we can keep having this kind of support, there's no telling how far these athletes can go. We'll have X Games athletes, and more, in no time.”