Crystal Wright Wins the 2012 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour

This past weekend, California’s Kirkwood Resort played host to the final freeskiing event of 2012, and with a series of spring storms filling in the venue, it was the ideal location to determine the best overall freeskiers in the world, despite the lack of early season snowfall. Entering the weekend, the race for the McConkey Cup, awarded to the overall tour champion, was in a dead tie between Crystal Wright of Jackson Hole and Angel Collinson from Snowbird Utah. Both skiers aggressively charged the permanently closed cirque at Kirkwood Resort, showcasing speed, fluidity and air. After the final runs on Day Two, judges awarded the victory to Wright, who accumulated enough points to claim overall champion of the 2012 Subaru World Freeskiing Tour.

“My expectations for the finals is to step it up a little bit more, and ski a litle faster, a little more fluid and exposed and to stay on my feet as well” Wright said in an interview before her runs in the finals. Attacking her line right out of the gate, Crystal blazed through the upper powder section of the course fearlessly navigating technical rock features with style. Exhibiting creativity, she aired exposed rocks stomping each of the landings. No stranger to speed, Wright straight-lined narrow chutes into controlled giant-slalom turns, making the course look easy, despite its extreme difficulties.

The competitive vibe during the final was an attitude of encouragement and stoke. Each female competitor cheered on one another, enthusiastically greeting each skier at the base with high-fives, and a can of Sierra Nevada. In an interview following her second run, after she won the event and overall tour, Wright commented ““Winning both today was surreal. Angel and I had so much fun pushing each other all season. The girl’s game is being upped every year and it is so great to be a part of this tour.”

Congratulations and hats off to Crystal Wright – way to represent for the ladies in Jackson Hole!

Congratulations to the entire field for an amazing display of comradery and athleticism throughout the tour. Now in its 15th year, the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour is the largest and longest running competitive big mountain freeskiing tour in the history of the sport.