Founded by families and driven by passion, Calgary Freeriderz is a high-performance freestyle ski club with deep roots in community and athlete development. Below is a bit more about this impressive club, their journey since they formed in 2008 and the focus as they dive into this season.
Why and when was the club founded?
Calgary Freeriderz was formed in the summer of 2008 by five families who were unable to find a program that fit the needs of their rapidly progressing young athletes. With the right mix of planning, vision, and coaching, these parents built a high-performance program designed to support long-term athlete development.
Since then, Freeriderz athletes have advanced to provincial and national teams, with many alumni returning as coaches to inspire the next generation. Others continue to ride the mountain purely for the love of skiing — a value that remains central to the club’s culture.
What are your club’s main disciplines?
Calgary Freeriderz competes in both Freeski and Freeride.
Freeski includes Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air, and the newest addition — Rail Events. Freeride, often referred to as Big Mountain skiing, remains a cornerstone of the program.
Who are your coaches?
One of the club’s greatest strengths is the depth, experience, and passion of its coaching staff. Calgary Freeriderz boasts one of the most certified coaching rosters in Canada, with all coaches holding a minimum Air 4 certification and the highest concentration of Air Double–certified coaches in the country.
The coaching team includes current and former national and Olympic team coaches (Canada, China, Australia), former Team Canada and Alberta Team athletes, and extensive expertise in both Freeski and Freeride. Collectively, the coaches have supported World Cups, World Championships, Dew Tours, Olympic athletes, NorAm overall champions, and countless Canada Cup podiums — while still delivering some of the most fun and engaging experiences at provincial events.
2025–26 Coaching Roster:
Austin Coll, Spencer Saltys, Matt Couillard, Konrad Staszellis, Brayden Tritter, Paul Harrop, Sascha Pedenko, Kyler Tritter, Dave Stevenson, Patrick Walsh (Head Coach)
Additional support comes from a dedicated group of coaches and contributors, including Colin Hendrickson, Ayden Fraser, Mark Hendrickson, and many others.
Key volunteers who make a big impact
It’s impossible to name everyone without missing someone. From the original founding families — whose children are now coaching — to the current Board led by Mark (President) and Janene (Vice-President), Calgary Freeriderz thrives on volunteer leadership.
The club is grateful for the many treasurers, event organizers, chaperones, fundraisers, and long-time supporters who make everything possible. Community is at the heart of Calgary Freeriderz, and the club simply would not exist without the commitment of its families.
What circuits are your athletes competing on?
On the Freeski side, athletes compete in Provincial events, Junior Nationals, Canada Cups (Development and FIS), and NorAm Cups. When athletes are ready for World Cup competition, they typically transition to working with the Canadian National Team, though Freeriderz continues to support them whenever possible.
In Freeride, the focus is currently on IFSA Junior U15 and U19 2* and 3* events within Alberta.
Primary training venues
WinSport (COP) serves as the primary training venue for rails, jumps, halfpipe, and airbag progression. Lake Louise provides world-class big-mountain terrain and park features, allowing athletes to fully express their skills.
Notable alumni
Calgary Freeriderz alumni include:
- Mark Hendrickson — Canadian Slopestyle Team
- Amy Fraser — Canadian Halfpipe Team
- Cole Richardson — Freeride athlete (MSP / Arc’teryx)
- Reid SMF — Professional filmer
- Sam McKeown — Canadian Halfpipe Team
- Josh Podulsky — Canadian Halfpipe Team
- Quincy Barr — Canadian Halfpipe Team
- Evelyn Mullie — Canadian Slopestyle Team
Many members of the current coaching staff are also Freeriderz alumni.
Club highlight events
Recent competitive highlights include a 2023 NorAm Cup overall win, a 2025 NorAm Cup overall win, and back-to-back National Freeski overall titles in Big Air and Slopestyle.
The annual Freeriderz Challenge, hosted by the club, remains a signature event focused on fun, friendship, and progression — and consistently brings out one of the largest Freeriderz contingents of the season.
Memorable moments
While road trips are always a highlight, the most anticipated tradition each year is Freeriderz Champz — the final weekend at Lake Louise in April. Other memorable moments include post-competition surf trips, team steak nights, familiar faces in Wanaka, and classic spring pond-skimming sessions in Whistler.
Anything else people should know?
High-performance sport comes with significant costs, and Calgary Freeriderz is committed to making elite-level skiing as accessible as possible. As a non-profit organization, the club leverages grants, fundraising, casinos, and community support to keep team fees among the most affordable in Canada while maximizing athlete opportunities.
Limited-edition Freeriderz merchandise is available until January 25.
Freeriderz Website