Great skiing will return to the slopes at Panorama Mountain Village as the Panorama Mountain Freeride Club is preparing to host a freestyle weekend on March 12-13.

The two day event will give some of the best young mogul and slopestyle riders the chance to show what they can do.

Mike Meadus is one of the organizers of the event and is a coach with the Panorama Mountain Freeride Club.

“The club is very excited to host this event. It is one of the only Jumps and Bumps events here in the Kootenays. It gives the youngest kids from 6-15 years old a chance to establish themselves for a competitive life in the freestyle world,” he said.

Meadus went on to explain that events like this are a great opportunity for all other Freestyle clubs from Alberta and B.C. to come to Panorama and compete.

As for what people will be able to see on the weekend, Meadus explains there will be something for all people in attendance.

“On Saturday we are hosting the mogul competition. It is a single mogul event. Jumps and Bumps entry level athletes can show their skills in a mogul course and jumps at the same time combined. The mogul course at Panorama features two jumps and about 40 moguls to ski. The slopestyle event on Sunday will feature the small jumps at the Terrain Park and box. Kids will show tricks such as switch, 180 and 360 spins as well as gliding over the box.”

With 90 members taking part at the Jumps and Bumps (entry level freestyle), kids and youth freestyle as well as a youth freeride, there should be many local participants in the event.

“The club has changed in the number of participants. We started four years ago with about 45 kids and are now at 90. The sport of freeride and freestyle skiing is very spectacular to watch. Kids and youth of today prefer to ski all mountain terrain and the park as well as a fun mogul course. Canada freestyle is a very successful organization that constantly wins medals in all disciplines. From Olympic Games to single world cup events and world championship; freestyle Canadian athletes are the best in the world,” he said.

Meadus also felt it was important to thank Panorama Mountain Village for their support as a lot of the organizing is done fairly quickly. He also wanted to thank the volunteers who will help both before and during the event.

For any other information about the event feel free to contact Mike and Andrea Meadus at 250- 342-9082.