Freestyle Yukon and Freestyle Canada present the Yukon Canada Cup December 4-8.
t’s just going to be a great time to get together and watch these amazing athletes hit the huge jump and fly through the air and do their crazy tricks
Nick Hull
The Canada Cup Series, presented by Toyo Tires, is returning to Whitehorse from Dec. 4 to 8, 2024. The Yukon Canada Cup is a joint endeavour involving Freestyle Yukon, Freestyle Canada and Mount Sima.
“It’s been a lot of work for Freestyle Yukon’s board, in collaboration with Freestyle Canada as well as Mount Sima,” says Freestyle Yukon’s president, Nick Hull. “It’s been a lot of work with all three of our organizations to put this one on.”
With the first two days of the event reserved for practice, days three through five will see both Big Air and Slopestyle competitions. As a Freestyle Canada-sanctioned event, rules are based on that organization’s guidelines.
The competition consists of one Big Air event on Dec. 6, followed by a Slopestyle qualification on Dec. 7 and Slopestyle finals on Dec. 8, the last day of the event. Awards for each competition will be given out at the end of each final.
“I would say definitely be looking forward to the Friday night, starting at 6 p.m. on the hill at Mount Sima,” says Hull. “It’s going to be an amazing event; there’s going to be a huge Big Air competition, with a lot of national Canadian athletes from all over Canada coming in.”
In addition to the competition on the cup’s kickoff night, attendees can expect to see food vendors, a beer garden by Yukon Brewing, and a DJ performance.
“It’s just going to be a great time to get together and watch these amazing athletes hit the huge jump and fly through the air and do their crazy tricks,” says Hull. “It’s going to be a good time.”
The Canada Cup Freestyle national competition circuit was created to “support a competitive and sustainable domestic tour where freestyle athletes from across Canada can develop their competitive skills in all of our disciplines; Moguls, Aerials Slopestyle and Halfpipe,” according to the organization’s website.
For Hull, the Yukon being able to host an event like this is a great opportunity for Mount Sima and for the territory’s winter sports community – especially because many other hills in Canada aren’t able to open this early.
“It’s a really great event for the Yukon as well as Mount Sima,” he says. “It brings a lot of activity and athletes from all over Canada who are able to use our hill pre-season. We’re one of the earliest hills open in Canada with the most snow.
“That’s really what it’s about – getting all this traffic over to Mount SIma as well and having all these amazing athletes on our hill early, being able to train. It’s great that way.”
Around this time of year, the anticipation for the hill’s opening starts to really kick in for Hull. While the year’s first snow isn’t exactly suitable for skiing and snowboarding, it still signifies the coming of the winter season. With the territory’s cold, long and dark winters, it’s important to many Yukoners to have an active outlet during these months to keep them active, healthy and happy.
“As soon as the snow falls, we all start getting excited in the ski community,” he says. “It’s just an amazing kickoff event; it goes on right as Mount Sima is opening its hill to the public, so it’s just a great busy time and we’re all excited for all the activity in Whitehorse and at the hill as well.”
Registration for athletes closed on Nov. 21, but competing athletes must check in onsite at the Mount Sima staff lodge. Lift tickets will be available for purchase each day of training and competition, with the presentation of the competitor bib.
Lift tickets cost $70 plus GST for the full day, with no half-day tickets available. Each competitor is responsible for the purchase of a lift ticket for each event day. All athletes must also have up-to-date aerial qualifications for jumps they are performing in all disciplines.
“It’s been great to work with all the teams,” says Hull. “Our board is all volunteers, so a huge thank you to all of them, a huge thank you to Mt. Sima and Freestyle Canada. […With that big event] Friday night, it’s going to be a great spectacle to see for sure.”
Freestyle Yukon is the territory’s official member-operated ski club, offering freestyle skiing programs to support increasing interest in the freestyle scene. Programs range from those geared towards beginners to aspiring international competitors, in both recreational and competitive styles.
Freestyle Yukon’s coaches are certified under the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and offer children and teenagers skills for skiing and competing safely, according to the organization’s website.
For more about Freestyle Yukon and the Yukon Canada Cup, visit www.yukonfreestyleski.com.
