Located in Grande Prairie, Alberta, the Northern Extreme Freestyle Ski Team (NEF) was founded in 1995 by a group of passionate skiers and parents came together to create a program that would foster talent, encourage camaraderie, and promote a love for the sport.
Since then, this club has empowered young athletes to reach their full potential in freestyle skiing while instilling the club values; a strong sense of sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork. The club is constantly striving to adhere to these values of Excellence, Community, Respect and Integrity.
“We were Inspired by the growing popularity of freestyle skiing and the need for a dedicated club in the region,” said club Treasurer Tammy Greening.
The coaching staff is a dedicated group, who deliver skill development, with a focus on:
- Fundamentalz: Building a strong foundation in basic skiing techniques and safety.
- Freestylerz: Teaching a variety of freestyle tricks, including jumps, spins, and flips.
- Competition Preparation: Preparing athletes for competition through specific training, mental preparation, and competition strategy.
The team and program offers regular training sessions, summer camps, competitions and social events.
A highlight for the club was when they hosted the 2024 Alberta Winter Games freestyle events, a real growth moment for the entire club and its volunteers. “We were able to build mogul courses and learn all aspects of hosting a freestyle competition,” Tammy said. “This experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow our club and provide opportunities for our members.”
With notable alumnus, such as Ryan Blais, Cord Spero and Melissa Prefontaine, the NEF member list is impressive:
- Ryan Blais: 19 top-10 World Cup finishes (including eight podiums and two gold medals).
- Keaton Carlson: Was ranked as high as 5th in Canada for Slopsestyle and was ranked 28th in the world.
- Corbin Lefebvre: Slopestyle specialist, who competed at at Noram level, WSI, Dew Tour.
- Melissa Prefontaine: Member of the national aerials team from 2001-2005 (four top 10 World Cup finishes).
- Cord Spero: Member of the national aerials team from 2003-2009 (eight top 10 World Cup finishes and 1 win).
- Luke Ulsifer: Former national mogul team member – Group B.
Good luck this season to the Northern Extreme Freestyle Ski Team!
NEF Website