Description

Join us for a special Banff edition of YYC Mappy Hour. We're celebrating the return of one of the biggest freeride events in the world at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - the Freeride World Tour (FWT) the only stop in North America for the second year in a row!

No RSVP or tickets are available, please show up early for entry. Entry numbers are subject to venue capacity

Hear from world class athlete, Nicole Kelly who will be competing for the first year in the Freeride World Tour.

***Presentation will start around 5:30pm

About Nicole;
Nicole Kelly is a Canadian snowboarder that will be competing for the first year on the Freeride World Tour amongst the best freeriders in the world.
Nicole is the perfect example of an extraordinary athlete with a unique journey. Discover Niki who made up her way to the highest rank of freeriding in only 4 seasons.
Q: What is your home mountain?
A: Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is my home mountain!

Q: How young did you start snowboarding? Freeriding?
A: I started Skiing at age 4 but started snowboarding when I was 16 and had a car and money to be able to get myself to our local hill near Edmonton AB (Rabbit Hill) and pay for a snowboard rental. I began freeriding way later in my mid-twenties at Lake Louise and Sunshine Village. I got more serious and started competing when I moved to Golden, B.C 4 seasons ago.

Q: What was your first freeride Competition?
A: It was January 2016 at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The Freeride World Tour is going to be an amazing adventure. I am looking forward to travelling to new places and resorts, meeting fantastic people and challenging myself.

Q: What is your idea of a great run?
A: Ideally, good weather, good snow and being able to stick to the line you imagined.

Q: What is your training leading up to the FWT?
A: I am lucky enough to have a best friend who is also a personal trainer, so I was able to work with her for a month and she gave me a program to follow which involved metabolic, hypertrophy and cardio training. I'm also getting out into as the Golden backcountry as much as I can to expose myself to new terrain and stay strong on my board.

Q: Who is your coach/mentor figure or inspiration?
A: I would consider my husband Mitchell my Coach. He is always great with motivating me to push harder on a snowboard. But I would also consider Marie-France Roy and Robin Van Gyn inspiring. They really know how to shred. Lastly, I also find all the lady shredders around me inspiring, it's amazing to see any girl out on a pair of skis or board pushing themselves.

Q: Are you looking forward to competing at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Golden?

A: I am stoked to be competing at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort! I am so proud that Canada is apart of the FWT and that Kicking Horse is considered to be on the same caliber as some of the best resorts in the world.

**Watch Nicole compete live at the FWT on https://www.facebook.com/FreerideWorldTour

About the Freeride World Tour;
FREERIDE WORLD TOUR STOP #2 – TIME TO GET ROWDY!
In association with Tourism Golden, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is thrilled to welcome the Freeride World Tour (FWT) for the second season.
The Freeride World Tour is a five-stop international journey, featuring world-class venues with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Golden BC as the second stop.

With its strong history of hosting freeride events, Kicking Horse is established as a leader in Canada, notably with Wrangle the Chute 2 and 4 Freeride World Qualifiers (FWQ) and Junior Freeski competitions. Steep, rugged & burly terrain provides the perfect playground to challenge the best skiers and snowboarders in the world & is sure to be a spectacular event for both athletes and spectators.

The FWT is the worldwide circuit of freeride snowboarding and skiing with the best riders in the world competing on the most legendary and challenging alpine faces and the most renowned ski resorts across the world. There‘s a start gate at the summit and a finish gate at the bottom. That’s it. Best run down wins. It truly is that simple. Think skiers and snowboarders choosing impossible-looking lines through cornices and cliff-faces and nasty couloirs. Think progressive: big jumps, mach-speed turns and full-on attack. Think entertaining. Learn more about the FREERIDE WORLD TOUR: www.freerideworldtour.com

About Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

A TRUE BIG MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE
We’re a mountain resort, a playground with something for everyone. Our village and homes are solid and simple; our accommodations, cozy and luxurious. We have the highest and one of the best dining experiences in Canada. Nowhere else can you ride a single gondola right to the summit, providing stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and surrounding national parks, as well as easy access to alpine ridges and bowls. These same ridges and bowls keep the snow stashed deeper and longer, which is why we’re the Champagne Powder Capital of Canada™.

From steep and gnarly chutes, to fast and fun glades, and even smooth and gentle groomers. The on snow experience at Kicking Horse is exceptional for the whole family. Below, you’ll find more stats and details about this amazing mountain and the facts that set us apart. Come and see for yourself.

NEW This season at Kicking Horse - The biggest terrain expansion in Canada;
The Horse is back with more kick than ever! With our recent expansion, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort can now offer 4314 feet of vertical descent – the 5th biggest vertical in North America!

Here are the fast facts:

4314 feet (1314 meters) of vertical
3486 acres of skiable terrain
8218 feet (2504 meters) at top elevation
5 alpine bowls
Endless Champagne Powder
Dialing up for this coming winter, Kicking Horse’s new terrain includes the legendary Ozone South face (made famous as the competition venue for last year’s Freeride World Tour event) and Middle Ridge, offering fantastic turns into both Feuz Bowl and the adjacent Rudi’s Bowl. This is Canada’s BIGGEST expansion in skiable terrain – a loud and large 660 acres of new, rowdy skiing! 660 acres that embody what Kicking Horse represents: adventurous terrain offering challenges to all skiers and riders.

To access Ozone, skiers and riders will hike up to Whitewall, ski/ride down to the saddle and hike up to the top of the face. For Middle Ridge, a dedicated bootpack will head up from the bottom of Feuz Bowl. Big rewards will be available to those happy to do a little hiking!
More info - https://kickinghorseresort.com/blog/new-season-new-terrain/

A Special Thank you to Timberline Academy for helping in the organization of this event - http://timberlineacademy.com/.