Kirkwood, CA – This past weekend, the International Freeski & Snowboard Association (IFSA) hosted the prestigious Junior Freeride Championships (JFCs) at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, where the top 200 junior athletes from across the Americas came together to compete on one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
Fifteen athletes from the Mad River Valley were invited to make the cross-country journey, including 13 members of the Mad River Glen Ski Club (MRSC), each earning a coveted spot to compete at this year’s Championship event. Representing the Mad River Valley with pride and skill, these athletes faced off against the top ranked freeskiers from Canada, The United States, Chile and Argentina.
The 2025 Championships took place in The Cirque—a permanently closed area of Kirkwood known for its steep, technical terrain and reserved exclusively for ski patrol avalanche mitigation and top-tier freeride competitions. Once a stop on the Freeride World Tour, The Cirque now plays host only to the most advanced freeride athletes, making it a fitting stage for the best junior skiers in the world.
Highlights for Mad River Glen included podium finishes for the season series with Seamus O’Neill ending the season in 1st amongst U19 men and Addison Brooks landing in 4th for U15 women in the IFSA Americas Region 2. Sadie Haskell of Waitsfield laced an impressively technical run in the U19 women’s finals and earned a 6th place finish in the Championship event. Tara Nagle went into the finals seated in 6th place after qualifying on day one but lost a ski during her finals run on day two. Other standout performances included Evers Gladchun, Jack Guy, Lynsey Nagle, Ava Killian, Cailin Brooks, Adeline Lazorchak and Robbie Burton.
“This group of athletes not only showcased their exceptional skill on the mountain, but also incredible sportsmanship,” said José Darias, Head Coach of the Mad River Glen Freeski Team. “They supported one another through highs and lows, and truly represented what our program is all about—community, courage, and love for the mountains.”
Behind every athlete was a strong support network of coaches, family members, and teammates. However, the camaraderie extended far beyond regional lines, with a shared passion for skiing creating a tight-knit and uplifting atmosphere—even amid the pressure of such high-stakes competition. In a sport where risk and reward are ever-present, emotions ran high, and every celebration was hard-earned.
Mad River Glen’s presence at this year’s Junior Freeride Championships served as a powerful reminder: the Mad River Valley continues to be a thriving hub for cultivating world-class skiing talent.
Full results from the 2025 IFSA Junior Freeride Championships can be found on liveheats.com/events/295634
Watch the 2025 IFSA Junior Freeride Championships on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFlUAQD1cSM
2025 IFSA Junior Rankings https://ifsafreeride.org/ifsa-junior-rankings/
