Representing Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s Freeride team for the 10 – 12 year old boys, Felix Coudouy, Shane Ridler, and Izak Little competed against some of the best freeskiers in the country at Monday’s halfpipe contest for the USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain, and Coudouy took third against a field of 43 others.

“Felix ripped up the halfpipe with some really big amplitude,” said coach Dave Zweig.  “At the bottom of his run he threw a big 900, 2/12 spins out of the pipe.”

Coudouy was in a superpipe, with 22-foot high walls.

“On Coudouy’s second run I told him to have fun and do some big tricks,” coach Zweig said.  “He went out and had fun, and it paid off.  Just being at this nationals event is a big step for these young skiers.”

SSCV’s John Leonard, Broby Leeds, and Tyler Peterson competed in Monday’s Slopestyle Nationals alongside a very strong field.  In the open class category, Leeds placed seventh with Leonard on his heels in eighth.

“Leeds and Leonard skied really strong,” said Zweig.  “Both of them stepped up and putdown some big runs.”

There was also a Rail Jam in Monday’s USASA Nationals from 4 t0 7:00 P.M.  SSCV’s Jesse Ridler and Cole Pates made it to the finals in the rail jam, with Pates taking third in the 14 and older open class division.

The USASA Nationals resume today, 4/12, at Copper Mountain.