A Fernie free skier is back at home after finishing 15th in the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour.
“It was a great season, there were lots of surprises,” said Caleb Brown. “We kind of flew by the seat of our pants and went wherever the van did.”
Brown said that he did better this season than he did last year.
“I was two stops behind because I didn’t go to Chile and Argentina,” he said.
One of the highlights for Brown was finishing second in Jackson Hole, winning $1,500.
“I want to place better next year, and go to Argentina and Chile,” he said. “I can’t believe that winter’s already over. But I will be going to Argentina and Chile in August.”
For next season, Brown is hoping to work on more tricks and improve in the style category.
“I ski smoothly, that’s where I do really well, and I don’t hesitate,” he said. “I want to work on my flips.”
Brown said that the tour was great because it was like a big family.
“We all hung out and would meet up after the runs and party,” he said.
Now that Brown is back home, he is getting ready to work.
“I’m pretty bummed out, but I need to make money for next year and for Argentina and Chile,” he said.
For the past few years, Brown has worked at Fernie Alpine Resort building bike trails, but he isn’t sure if he’ll do that this year because he has to take time off to go to South America.
Brown said the support he gets from Fernie has been great.
“People were making an effort to tune into the website and watch even though the website wasn’t very good. And I got a ton of high fives from people,” he said.
One of Brown’s biggest supporters has been his mom, Christa Moffat.
“I think he really enjoyed himself, especially being on the podium,” she said in February after he placed second. “I’m his biggest fan.”
In addition to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, El Colarado, Chile and Las Lenas, Argentina, the World Tour stopped in Crested Butte, Kirkwood and Snowbird.
Angel Collinson from Snowbird, Utah took the win for the women and Drew Tabke from Seattle won from the men.