The Sun Peaks Freestyle Club is this winter featuring both skiing and snowboarding divisions.
Janna Brown, the club’s snowboard director, is trumpeting expansion on the snowboard side, which will offer programming three days per week this season, up from one day a week in 2019-2020.
“A lot of Kamloops residents don’t know this program is now available up in Sun Peaks,” Brown said, noting sessions will be held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. “It’s for kids who have gone through sport-school programs who are now wanting to get into the parks, learn more advanced jumps and do some competitions.”
The program, led by coach Richard Fonger, is for riders ages nine to 18 and aims to prepare them to compete in slopestyle and big air competitions on the provincial series, with events traditionally held in Whistler, SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon and Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna.
“It’s about learning and having fun safely, with the end goal to have that competitive piece,” Brown said.
Club action will begin on Nov. 27 and run through the end of season, with 15 dates on the schedule.
The cost is $800. Riders must also have a season pass at Sun Peaks Resort and purchase B.C. Snowboard competition membership.
“There is that big need for competitive level snowboarding,” Brown said.
“For kids that are interested in joining, they must be very comfortable on snow, with their edging, and be able to do surface turns and hit some small to medium size jumps."
Dryland training is underway at the Kamloops Gymnastics and Trampoline Centre and Sun Peaks Alpine Fitness.
The club will play host to a ski and snowboard swap on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 at Bottoms Bar and Grill.
