JACKSON, Wyo. — Sixteen-year-old Jackson local, Wyatt Gentry finished third in the Freeride Junior World Championships (FJWC) this past Tuesday in Kappl, Austria.
The FJWC is a one-day event for male and female skiers and snowboarders aged 15-18. Each year the International Freeskiers Association (IFSA) invites Region 2 (U.S., Canada and South America) riders based on past year’s results, age restrictions and a national representation quota. This year the event was held at Quellspitze, an 11,106-foot peak in the Austrian Alps. The competition was broadcasted live and can now be found on Youtube.
Gentry’s run started out playful and energetic as he stomped a couple of clean airs and even threw in one of his signature cossack spread eagles. He then fluidly transitioned over a ridge to ski some steep and technical terrain with ease.
“That’s some big mountain riding there, definitely a Jackson Hole kind of entry, a spiny narrow line,” said broadcast commentator Will Tucker.
“There is a reason that it was the announcer’s favorite line and no other riders were looking at that zone as skiable,” coach Simon Lynes said.
According to Coach Lynes, skiing in Jackson prepared Gentry for this terrain in a way almost no other mountain could. Gentry grew up in a cabin just over the pass in Victor Idaho, with his mother working in Teton Village and older brother Luke to chase him around. He was basically raised on the mountain. Five years ago, Gentry started competing in freeride and training with the Jackson Hole Evolution Team although he had been on skis since age two.
Gentry was joined in Kappl Austria by his coach Simon Lynes, his parents Scott and Lisa, his grandparents, his brother Luke and close friend, Salomon Freeski teammate, and Jackson local, Tucker Carr. Gentry will be competing next weekend in the Grand Targhee IFSA Junior Nationals.
Congrats, Wyatt!
