Summit County skier earns hefty paycheck at Jib League competition

$12,000 is a lot of money for most people. While the amount of money is not completely life-changing by most adult standards, it is in the eyes of an 13-year-old aspiring pro skier. 

Silverthorne’s Lainey Steen was awarded with a large check in her name after winning Season 3, Episode 2 of the Jib League on Thursday, April 17.

Taking place at Copper Mountain Resort, approximately 150 freeski athletes converged for the multi-day alternative freeski competition. With most freeski competitions throughout the winter season usually being rigid in terms of rules and format, the Jib League provides a more laid back competition format for contest skiers.

While most competitions are scored by a group of judges, the Jib League is skier judged after the completion of the competition which runs like a rail jam. 

“It was definitely a change for me, just because I am so used to that not so laid back competition atmosphere,” Steen said. “It was less of a competition and more of an event just because it was so chill.”

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The week of competition started on Friday, April 11, with the open round of competition. Not yet an established professional-level skier, Steen and Dillon’s Evan Wischmeyer, 17, both competed in the qualifiers in hopes of earning a spot in the pro session later the following week.

On the first day of competition, Steen and Wischmeyer used their knowledge of the features at Copper to their advantage, making the cut and being two of the 47 athletes to make it to the next round of qualifiers.

With some momentum behind both skiers from the day before, each showed off their unique skiing style, performed impressive tricks and pushed themselves as athletes. The two Summit County skiers made it past the second day, advancing to the pro sessions portion of the competition among about 20 other freeski athletes from qualifiers.

Being able to ski alongside some of their idols was a dream come true for Steen and Wischmeyer. While most would find the moment intimidating and a little stressful, both skiers unloaded their bag of tricks to make an impression on their fellow competitors.

“I had a bunch of tricks that I wanted to try and I just progressed safely,” Steen said. “It worked out pretty well for me.”

By the conclusion of the women’s competition on Thursday, April 17, Steen was crowned the champion, marking the first athlete that has ever won a Jib League competition after making their way through the open round of qualifiers.

“I was pretty mind blown,” Steen said. “It was super cool because they said I was the first person to win coming from the open. It was just a crazy experience for me. After they said my name, two of my friends picked me up and it was like I was crowd surfing.” 

Due to her placing, Steen will potentially be invited to Europe in order to compete in a future Jib League competition.

Wischmeyer competed strongly in the men’s competition, but did not earn a podium spot.

“It was great to see the freeski community come out with 150 people for the first day of the open jam,” Wischmeyer said. “I was super stoked and grateful that I was able to ski with some of those pros and watch what skiing means to them. Take that into my skiing.”

Although the event is different from most freeski competitions, both Summit County skiers will use what they learned from the Jib League competition in more structured contests.

“It gives me motivation to keep working hard and working on the tricks I learned in Jib League,” Steen said. 

“It takes a lot to stand out,” Wischmeyer said. “You have to be consistent, but also creative. I think it is huge for me going into my future comps to be that person who is separate from everyone else. That person who adds that touch of flavor or is skiing something that nobody is.”

This story is from SummitDaily.com.