Skiers, snowboarders get jump start on competition at Snowflex before spring USCSA season

Ski and snowboard coaches 2024-25 — Flames and Lady Flames coaches (from left) Ian Rosario, Head Coach Tyler Sherbine, Samantha Sherbine, and Curren Cook

While snow forecasts for the New Year in the Southeast may be unclear, the competition schedule and travel rosters for Liberty University's men's and women's ski and snowboard teams are set for the upcoming spring semester.

"We are excited to get the ball rolling again," second-year Head Coach Tyler Sherbine said, noting that most team members who spent the fall semester sharpening their skills at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre will continue to practice on their home slopes across the United States over Winter Break.

The Flames and Lady Flames will open the 2025 season with the first of three USCSA competitions Jan. 25-26 at Beech Mountain (N.C.) Ski Resort, with Slopestyle and Rail Jam events. After hosting USCSA Rail Jam and Big Air competitions at Snowflex on Feb. 8-9, Liberty will conclude its regular season with Rail Jam and Slopestyle events Feb. 15-16 at Massanutten Resort near Harrisonburg, Va.

The USCSA Regional Championships are set for Feb. 21-23 at Wintergreen Resort in nearby Nelson County, where the Flames and Lady Flames have season passes to practice on the snow. They will make a practice trip to Seven Springs in western Pennsylvania from Feb. 28-March 2 to get some training on larger jumps as they ramp up for the March 10-15 USCSA National Championships at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Ore., where nationals were last held in 2016.

"We will be able to get on some quality jumps that we won't see all season until then and that trip to nationals, where they will have some really big ones," Sherbine said. "Ultimately, we are a Rail Jam team and try to do our best on the jumps."

The Flames and Lady Flames graduated the majority of their student-athletes from last season when Liberty experienced the greatest success in program history at nationals on Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, N.Y., last March. The Flames' men's snowboarders won their first-ever men's team and individual gold medals, claiming first-place honors overall in men's freestyle skiing and men's snowboarding. The Lady Flames' snowboarders also struck gold as a team and individuals to help Liberty capture its first men's and women's ski and snowboard team combined freestyle USCSA national championship.

Zack Ries men's snowboard captain — Senior snowboard captain Zachary Ries

"There are a lot of expectations from last year, obviously, and we would like to take advantage of that momentum," Sherbine said. "At the same time, we are not focusing on the past but looking ahead to the future. Everyone's hungry. They know they've got big shoes to fill, and they're just excited to start."

He is approaching this season as a rebuilding year but has seen tremendous progression and potential on both the men's and women's sides.

Charlie Barkow men's ski captain — Senior ski captain Charlie Barkow

"This is my seventh season being a part of the team, and it is the first time we're brand new on snowboard," Sherbine said, noting that senior captain Zachary Ries is the veteran of a four-man squad that also includes junior Ky Pafford, graduate Albrey Gosset, and sophomore Evan Whitlow. "We have no returners, but I am confident in these four and excited to give all these riders experience of being on the travel team and all the fun and camaraderie that comes with it. They have sweat out on the slopes all fall at Snowflex and now is the time to reap the benefits of that work."

Graduation took an even greater toll on the women's snowboard team, which was left with only senior Abigail Foreman and graduate Maddie Morgan, not enough riders to score as a complete team.

Lauren Harder women's skier — Senior skier and Disciple Maker Lauren Harder

The Flames and Lady Flames are much deeper on the men's side this season, with the men's squad led by captain Charlie Barkow and fellow senior Coby Liebelt, the team's spiritual Disciple Maker. Junior Cameron Brandenburg will miss the season after tearing the ACL in his knee. That will give more opportunity for sophomore Blake Stillman and freshmen Jack Albee, Eli Malek, and Asa Greene to place in the top three.

"Honestly, this is the best I've seen the men's ski team ever as a whole," Sherbine said. "Blake Stillman has tripled his bag of tricks and really developed his skills this fall. He has great air awareness and is really stepping up on jumps this year and has really technical skills on rails. He has a really good drive to him and is fun to be around. Jack Albee and Eli Malek are really solid freshmen, and I am excited to see them start competing."

Josie Rich women's skier — Rail Jam and Slopestyle silver medalist Josie Rich

The women's ski team returns senior Lauren Harder, who was a USCSA National Rail Jam gold medalist during her freshman year in 2022 and spent her junior season on the LU Dance team. After being baptized in 2023, she is serving as the ski team's Disciple Maker this season. The team also features seniors Darah Osborne and Josie Rich, the silver medalist in both the Rail Jam and Slopestyle at nationals last March who returns for a fifth season.

"I didn't think I'd be competing again this year, but now that I have the opportunity to do it again, it is another opportunity to ride with some of my closest friends, so I'm just going to embrace that," Rich said.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer

Skiers, snowboarders get jump start on competition at Snowflex before spring USCSA season

Players Mentioned

Jack Albee

Cameron Brandenburg

Abigail Foreman

Asa Greene

Lauren Harder

Coby Liebelt

Eli Malek

Darah Osborne

Zachary Ries

Blake Stillman

Evan Whitlow

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