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Photo by John Tonin

RIDING THE RAIL – Sammy Mather competes in the slopestyle event during the 2019 Snowboard Yukon Championships on Saturday at Mount Sima.

Snowboarders shred for Yukon Championships

The 2019 Yukon Snowboard Championships began last Saturday at Mount Sima. A fitting day for Snowboard Yukon, as they were celebrating their 13th riding season. Snowboarders of all ages took the mountain in their tie-dye sweaters.

By John Tonin on April 16, 2019

The 2019 Yukon Snowboard Championships began last Saturday at Mount Sima. A fitting day for Snowboard Yukon, as they were celebrating their 13th riding season. Snowboarders of all ages took the mountain in their tie-dye sweaters.

The U10-U14s, along with the RAD category, were the first on the hill competing in the Mazda Style Jam, a slopestyle event.

According to the Snowboard Yukon website, a RAD category is for "if you are a 'grown-up' who loves to shred, but aren't quite up to sending it in the OPEN category, then you are RAD."

Katrina Couch, head coach of the Shredders, the younger kids, said the athletes have made a lot of progression on their way to the championships.

"We had an amazing season, and had the most riders we have ever had out," said Couch. "From the beginning of when we first get started, everyone is a little green; we warm up, and by the time we get to the Yukon Championships, it's amazing the progression that they are displaying."

The riders have competed in the Grom Series throughout the year leading up to the championships.

"All season, part of the Mazda Grom Series is we have one at the beginning at the start of the season and one at the middle of the season and then the big final," said Couch. "So the Grom champion takes all sort of thing. It was slopestyle so a few rails, a few boxes, and three jumps."

Couch said the riders work on the basics at the beginning, and are then taught different tricks as they progress through the year.

"We have a wide range of riders, we have a 6-7-year-old who's doing amazing 360s and 180s, there is a wide range of talent," said Couch. "Usually when we start, we are working on turns, working on balance, basic skills. As we go, we are working on more of those slopestyle advanced skills.

"As they go progress through a series of green, blue and black and as they get to the back of that we transition them into our comp(etitive) team. So there is a grass-roots up to our competitive."

Couch said the season offered lots of memorable coaching moments.

"There is lots of proud coach moments," said Couch. "I've been here, well longer than 13 years, I was an athlete with snowboard Yukon when it was first getting started. Just to see the riders who start in our programs, grassroots, work their way up to the comp teams and then they come back and they coach. It's kind of like a family Snowboard Yukon. It's nice to see that continuum."

Aven Sutton was the winner of the U10 female Mazda Style Jam. Sophie Barker and Danee Marsh joined her on the podium.

The U10 male champion was Stian Langbakk. Jett Schommer and Hayden MacDonald came first and second.

Connor Boland was the 11-12 male winner followed by Eli Marsh.

Riley Boland was the winner in the girl's 13-14 category.

In the RAD division, Jake Wykes was the top rider. Rylie McPhee came second and Chris Boland third.

On Saturday afternoon, six older riders headed up to Coyote Park for the slopestyle competition.

Jacob Nickel was the U16 champion followed by Lewis Bunce and Rylie McPhee.

Sammy Mather was the winner of the Open with Ben Machtans and Adam Waddington rounding out the top three.

"It was a super-nice day, and I was able to land a run, so I'm happy," said Mather. "For the rails, I was just playing around doing some 50 back threes and front threes and some boardslides."

With Sima closing for the season, Mather is going to be heading to Whistler for spring training.

"I'm heading to Whistler on Wednesday to do some super slushy spring riding," said Mather. "It will be super-fun and hopefully progress down there; super-excited."

Mather's snowboarding has drawn the eye of the Canadian national team.

"I've been selected into the last stage of selection," said Mather. "So if everything goes my way, hopefully. I'm pretty stoked; I don't really know my chances but hopefully. It was a super-good season; I learnt a lot, so I'm happy."

During the season, he had travelled to some outside competitions. He said he fared well against the snowboarders from the other provinces and territories.

"I had a decent year; a couple of comps I didn't do as well," said Mather. "I still travelled quite a bit and made a little bit of an impression, so I am happy."

On Sunday, the second day of the competition, it switched to the snowboardcross races.

Sutton was the U10 female winner. Danee Marsh came second, and Barker grabbed third.

Langbakk earned himself another first-place win. Leo Spiers Leung was the second-fastest rider and MacDonald got the last podium spot.

Connor Boland was the 11-12 winner. Eli Marsh and Jack Thompson followed.

Riley Boland was the 13-14 female champion. Bunce, Nickel and Daniel Pike were the three podium finishers in the male event.

The Open race was won by Gabe Rivest. Troy Marsh was the second-fastest down the mountain. Machtans earned the bronze.

Mary Binsted was the RAD winner. Chris Boland was second and Couch was third.

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