Showing posts with label skiing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skiing. Show all posts

Shorewood student competes in the 2019 IFSA North American Championships

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Lillian 2019 Crystal Nationals PC
Photo by Chris Saito


Lillian Nimmer, 14, a student at Shorewood High School and an IFSA Freeride / Big Mountain Skier, was invited to compete in the 2019 IFSA (International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association) North American Championship at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden BC.

Lillian had an exciting and successful ski season, finishing on the podium in 6 out of 7 of events she participated in. She skied at Red Mountain Resort in Rossland BC, Stevens Pass Resort in WA, Big White Resort in Kelowna BC, Crystal Mountain Resort in WA, Whistler Resort in BC, and Alpental in WA.

Lillian and Coach Sammy 2019 IFSA Kicking Horse Nor Ams PC
Photo by Chris Saito


The IFSA North American Championships took place at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden BC. April 8-12, 2019. The Kicking Horse Resort is located in the Canadian Rockies near the BC/Alberta border. Kicking Horse is known for its steep terrain and excellent snow conditions. In 2019 they hosted a Freeride World Tour event attracting the best Freeskiers in the World.

The North American Qualifiers venue was held on “Marley's.” This venue has steep double diamond terrain with good line choice options of steeps, cliffs, trees, and rocks.

The qualifiers were set with the top 21 12-14 year old female Freeskiers in North America. The qualifying start order is done by random draw and Lillian was dropping 8th in the field of 21.

She would ski the top of the CPR Ridgeline dropping into a technically steep section of the venue. Her planned line included 4 cliff drops in the first five hundred vertical feet of her run. Icy conditions in the upper section of the venue caused Lillian to avoid taking her first cliff drop and she skied a steep section around it.

Lillian Nimmer Red Mountain 2019 PC
Photo by Steve Kelly


She then lined up two consecutive cliff drops going big off the second cliff landing and losing some control. This caused her to lose some speed heading to her final cliff drop so she decided to take a smaller side hit off the cliff. She skied with great style and energy in the second half of the venue through trees, and had a couple of small airs including a shifty heading into the finish corral. When qualifying results were announced Lillian had scored 31.40 and was sitting in 4th place heading into the finals.

The finals were to be held on a venue called “Whitewall.” The top of this venue is accessed via the Seventh Heaven stairway and a boot hike to the start.

The Whitewall venue is steep, covering a wide section of the mountain. It is high alpine terrain at over 8000 feet. There are no trees and few visible markings to help a skier find their line. If the lighting and visibility are not favorable in this venue it is easy to lose your way. 

Lillian Nimmer Big White PC
Photo by Rene Crawshaw


Lillian inspected the finals venue with her coaches and teammates. Upon completion she decided to change the upper section of her run as she was not comfortable with the conditions. This was a risky move as she would be skiing the upper section of her run blind, meaning she had not physically inspected this portion of her line.

In the finals the start order is based on your qualifying score with the lowest score being the first to start. Lillian would be starting/dropping 9th in a final field of 12 athletes. Lillian dropped into Whitewall and skied her upper section clean, but not taking advantage of a couple features she would have liked to have hit had she inspected it ahead of time.

In the mid section of her run she had a huge cliff drop landing in control and skiing strong in the lower section of the venue into the finish corral.

Lillian tops the podium at the Big White Biggie PC
Photo by Rene Crawshaw
Awards were held in the Kicking Horse lodge later that afternoon. They call up the top five finishers in each age category. Lillian's finals score was 29.00 which added to her qualifying score of 31.40 gave her a total score of 60.40, landing her in 5th place on the podium at the North American Championships.

Three Canadians, and one US competitor finished ahead of her to complete the podium top finishers.

Lillian 2019 Seattle Ski With Shop Manager Kyle McQueen


This was an exciting way for Lillian to complete the season. She finished the 2019 IFSA season at #6 in total point with 3235

Lillian moves up to the 15-18 year old female ski division next season and hopes to qualify to ski in the IFSA Freeride Junior World Tour Event held in Europe before she finishes her Junior career. 

Lillian has finished #1 in the Pacific NW Region including WA, OR, and AK the past 4 seasons. 

She has had an opportunity to compete in the North American Championships in 2016 Grand Targhee WY, 2017 Kirkwood CA, 2018 Snowbird UT, and 2019 Kicking Horse BC.

Lillian skies for NW Freeride. Her home mountain is Alpental at Snoqualmie Pass WA. 

Lillian would like to thank her coach Sammy Hall, her sponsors Lib Tech Skis, Seattle Ski (in Shoreline), Big Mable and her parents for supporting her throughout the season.



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Einstein student is nationally ranked Freeskiier

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Lillian at Snowbird in Utah April 2018
Smiley Mountain Photo, Snowbird

13 year old Einstein 8th grader Lillian Nimmer competed again this spring (see previous article) in the IFSA North American Championships held at Snowbird in Utah April 11 - 15, 2018. IFSA is the International Freeskiiers and Snowboarders Association.

Lillian started the season in January 2018 competing at Red Mountain in Canada at the Canadian Open Freeride Championships. She had finished 2nd there in 2017 and hoped to improve on that, but she dropped off a cliff in the lower venue, landed and fell, so she missed the cut and did not make the finals.

The Jim Jack Cowboy Up competition at Stevens Pass
She finished 1st.
Photo by Scott Harder

In February she skied at Stevens Pass in the Jim Jack "Cow Boy Up', finishing 1st. She then she skied in the IFSA Crystal Mountain Regional again finishing 1st.

After that she competed in the IFSA Crystal Mountain National. Her qualifying run was one of the best of the day, but she did not come to a controlled stop in the finish corral and missed the finals.

In March she visited Mount Baker for the IFSA Mount Baker Regional and finished 5th. The following weekend she competed in the Whister/Blackcomb Freeride Challenge, an IFSA Junior National event. She finished on the podium in 4th.

Alpental Freeride Open March 2018
She took 1st Place in her division
Photo by Scott Harder

She finished the regular season on a strong note, taking 1st place in the Alpental Freeride Open on March 24, 2018.

Lillian finished the 2018 IFSA regular season with 2175 points out of a possible 3000 points. She is ranked #1 in the IFSA Pacific Northwest region which includes Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

Alpental Back Country
Photo by Steve Kelly

At the NorAms (North American Championships) she competed against the top 20 athletes in North America in the 12-14 year old Female Ski category.

Lillian had a good qualifying run, finishing in 10th, only about a point from 1st place. She was in a good position to move up in the finals, but the finals were canceled due to unsafe conditions. Lillian finished the season with 2740 total points and is ranked #12 in North America and #8 in the U.S.

She still has one more season of competition in the 12-14 female ski category and she hopes to move up in the rankings next season. Over the summer she plans to train at Whistler, Mt. Hood, and has an opportunity to ski in Argentina. 

Lillian and one of her NW Freeride coaches, Corey Nugent
at Alpental for the 2018 Freeride Open
Photo by Rick Nimmer

She skies for Northwest Freeride and her home mountain is Alpental at Snoqualmie Pass.

Wayne Grevey is the director and head coach at Northwest Freeride, and Corey Nugent was her coach at Snowbird for the IFSA North American Championships. She is sponsored by Seattle Ski in Shoreline, Brian McQueen, owner.

She is the daughter of Rick and Leslie Nimmer of Shoreline.

Here is a link to her 2017 season edit posted on YouTube.



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Einstein student set to compete in IFSA North American Freeride Skiing Championships

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

12 year old Lillian Nimmer executing a move called the Cossack
 at the Alpental Freeride Open
Photo by Steve Kelly

Local Freeride Skier Lillian Nimmer is set to represent the Pacific Northwest in the IFSA North American Freeride Championships in Kirkwood, California April 5-8, 2017.

Lillian skis in the 12-14 year old Division of the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association, competing against skiers from around the US and Canada.

She is currently ranked #8 in North America.


Lillian, left, came in second last weekend at the Alpental Freeride Open
Photo by Rick Nimmer

Lillian Podiumed at The Canadian Junior Freeskiing Championships at Red Mountain, The Jim Jack Cowboy Up at Stevens Pass, The IFSA Regional at Crystal Mountain, The IFSA Mount Baker Regional, The Whistler National Freeride Challenge, and the Alpental Freeride Open.

She finished the regular season last weekend participating in the Alpental Freeride Open.

Lillian in mid air on a jump at Alpental
Photo by Steve Kelly

Freeriding, sometimes billed as Extreme Skiing, is skiing on natural terrain with no set course. There are no practice runs and adult skiers have only a visual inspection of the course before they go down, taking the route as it comes.

According to the Freeride World Tour,

The rules are simple. Start at the top. Finish at the bottom.
Runs are judged using five subjective criteria: Line, Fluidity, Control, Air and Style, Technique, which means that any approach or style has the potential to win.

Lillian is sponsored by Seattle Ski in Shoreline
Owner Brian McQueen holds her trophy from the Alpental Freeride Open.
Lillian holds her Crystal Mountain trophy.


At the Junior level at which Lillian completes, skiers are allowed to physically inspect the venue the day prior and the morning of the competition, but they are not allowed to ski it at full speed until the competition begins.

Lillian began skiing when she was three and has been freeriding since 2014.

She skis for NW Freeride/Alpental at Snoqualmie Pass. Her coach is Wayne Grevey of NW Freeride. She is sponsored by Seattle Ski in Shoreline and her Mom and Dad, Rick and Leslie Nimmer of Shoreline. 

Lillian attends Einstein Middle School in Shoreline.

Correction: Lillian is 12 years old, not 14

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Space available on local Ski Bus

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Last year's group knew how to have fun!


Did you know there is a ski bus in our neighborhood?

The Innis Arden Ski Club was started in the 1960’s. Its members are a group of vibrant, avid skiers of all skill levels who participate and work together to make ski trips easy, accessible and fun.

The members come from all over the area; there are no club fees. Beginning in January the Innis Arden Ski Bus travels to Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain on alternate Thursdays, for a total of eight trips. A first-class bus leaves from the Innis Arden Clubhouse at 7:00am and heads straight for the slopes, non-stop. On the trip home, the skiers relax and enjoy refreshments provided by the club.  The bus returns to Innis Arden by approximately 6:00pm. Being a member allows skiers to take advantage of group rate lift tickets at a considerable discount.

If you’re a skier looking for an easy and relaxed way to enjoy a day of skiing, or even if you’re a bit rusty and want to pick up your favorite sport once again, come join us. Skiers of all age groups and abilities are welcome!

For more information contact Ida Callahan.


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Summer's over - it's time to sign up for the Ski Club bus

Sunday, October 28, 2012


Did you know that there is a Ski Club in your neighborhood?

The Innis Arden Ski Club was started in the 1960s by housewives in the Innis Arden neighborhood to harness the power of collective purchasing. Today, it is a vibrant group of avid skiers of all skill levels that participate together to make ski trips easy and accessible and it’s free to join and belong! We visit Stevens Pass and Crystal Mountain on alternate Thursdays for a total of 8 trips.

It is a nonprofit, all VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. Because we bring many people together to the mountain, we can take advantage of group and senior ticket prices that help keep our participants’ cost as low as possible – and lower than doing it alone.

Our club members come from all over the area. There are no club fees. We depart from the Innis Arden clubhouse at 7am. A first class bus whisks us to the mountain on a nonstop trip to the slopes and we return approximately by 6:00pm. We also receive a considerable group discount on the lift tickets.

There are refreshments on the return trip in a fun relaxed atmosphere.

For more information contact Ida Callahan.


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Steven's Pass mid-day ski bus - spaces available

Friday, December 31, 2010

Photo from Wikimedia
Every Thursday for 8 weeks starting January 6, a bus will leave from four points in the area, including Lake Forest Park, going to Stevens Pass for an afternoon of skiing.

Pick-up points are North Seattle, Lake Forest Park, Bothell and Monroe.  The bus leaves North Seattle at 7:20 am, arrives at Stevens about 9:30 to 9:45 am and loads to come home at 3:45 pm.

The "Patty Wagon" has done this since the early 70's and is ready to go this year.

Single rides are $35, sign up for 6 to 8 trips and cost is $30.

In addition, Stevens gives lift ticket discounts to all - ages 16 to 61 is $48 (reg $60), those from 62 - 69 pay $25 (reg $40) and Seniors over 70 pay $15.

Coffee and snacks served on the way up and wine, coffee and treats on the way back. An easy, relaxing way to enjoy your ski day.

For more information, call Patty Price at 206-546-6717 or email.

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