Travers Grand Prix

Pictures by John Waldron

T r a v e r s G r a n d P r i x f i e r c e s k i i n g

When the news broke in mid-September that Nate Smith was out with an ankle injury for at least a few events, many would have imagined that the level of competition in men’s slalom skiing would go down a touch. This prediction was, to say the least, wide of the mark. Over three weeks and as many tournaments at the start of October, we saw a back-and-forth battle between Will Asher and Freddie Winter that will live long in our memory, especially the last event at the Travers Grand Prix.

Asher started the weekend with the best score ever in a pro tournament - 2@43off (notwithstanding Smith’s 3@43 from Swiss Pro in 2017 - subsequently ruled out for boat-path issues) and setting a new European Record in the process. Following him in qualifying was fellow Brit Freddie Winter, whose record Asher had just surpassed, with two 41offs in a row (scoring 0.5@43off). This was the first time back-to-back 41 offs had been run in a pro event since 2015 and the second time ever. It would not be a long wait for a repeat.

With Asher and Winter remaining to ski in the finals, Jon Travers, Thomas Degasperi, and Brando Caruso were all tied at 4@41off - a score that would have won the MasterCraft Pro and Malibu Open. Winter ran his third 41off pass of the event, taking the lead with 1@43off, leaving Asher with a huge task. As Asher came in, everyone on site knew that a piece of history was in the offing: a pro title had never been decided at 43off. As Asher rounded 6 ball, it became clear that this barrier would be broken and, after Asher took no chances securing 1@43, a new milestone was set with the first ever run-off starting at 41off.

will asher Freddie Winter vs.

Winter, who went out first due to his lesser backup score from the qualifying rounds, was the first skier ever to start at 41off. He attacked, but blew the tail. This provided Asher the relatively easy task of taking 1 full buoy for the title, which he managed easily.

Asher, perhaps one of the only athletes in recent memory, in any sport, to have his best season during the same year that he turned 40, won his fourth title of the season and his second title eight days after the Malibu Open. Winter, in 2nd place, will lick his wounds as the highest-scoring loser ever. Notably, however, he won first place two weeks later at the MasterCraft Pro.

The level in the women’s field was equally impressive. The second round of qualifying was the highest scoring in history as three women scored 2@41off. Going into the final, the recently unassailable triumvirate of Regina Jaquess, Jaimee Bull, and Whitney McClintock-Rini, each winning a title in the last three events, were set to battle it out for the win. Allie Nicholson, however, achieved her highest scoring event with a 4@39off, a score McClintock-Rini, atypically, could not match after a strange tail slide at 3@39off. Bull, on her home lake and the venue for her World Championship win 51 weeks prior, narrowly missed 2@41off, leaving the door slightly open for Jaquess. Jaquess made up for uncharacteristic mistakes at the MasterCraft Pro and California Pro-Am by winning her second title in a week with a dominant 2@41off.

Regina Jaquess Jamie Bull