BOZEMAN – “I’m really excited. I think it will be a good opportunity for me.”
That’s how 18-year-old Sidney Simard describes his feelings about being invited to the Junior Freeride World Ski Championships in Andora, a small country located between Spain and France.
“Well, I used to race and that was really fun,” said Simard. “But I just wanted to try something new, and I just really like free skiing and that’s pretty much free skiing
and I just like it a lot.”
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A table full of medals shows just how good Sidney is at it. The Bozeman High senior is one of only five Americans invited to the prestigious competition that takes place Feb. 6-8.
“I just like to be able to pick your own line,” added Simard. “And just be pretty much on your own and have your own ability to ski like you want to. And pretty much just ski what you want.”
Simard will be doing whatever he wants down the steep Pyrenees Mountains, where he’ll be judged on the line he chooses, the fluidity of his run, his style and energy, any tricks that he can pull off and his overall control.
“It’s pretty tough,” said Simard. “It’s really easy to fall if you’re not in control. And the judges can be really hard on you.”
Eventually, Simard hopes to use this competition as a stepping stone to the professional free-ride tour, but there is a lot of work ahead before that happens.
“Just train and ski as much as you can,” he said. “Just get as good as possible. And basically ski as much as you can and train as hard as you can and try to get there. I’m just going to try my hardest and hope that I can do somewhat good and it’s mostly just for the experience too just top meet all these guys and to be over in Europe for the first time. And have fun, yep.”
