Skiers excel, snowboarders show progress in first USCSA competitions in N.C.

Saturday, January 25

Boone, NC

8:00 AM

Liberty University Club Sports

Beech Mountain Competition

Flames freshman skier Asa Greene, who placed seventh in bot the men's Rail Jam and Slopestyle events, grabs some air during Liberty's first USCSA competitions of the season last weekend. (Photos by Andrew Smith)

Skiers excel, snowboarders show progress in first USCSA competitions in N.C.

2/1/2025 9:45:00 AM | Ski & Snowboard

Liberty's men's and women's skiers swept first place in last Saturday's Rail Jam and took gold and silver, respectively, in Sunday's Slopestyle at Beech Mountain.

Liberty snowboarders Beech Mountain — Liberty men's snowboarders warm up before the start of Sunday's Slopestyle competition at Beech Mountain in Western North Carolina.

It is a rebuilding year for Liberty University's men's and women's snowboard team, as revealed by the Flames' and Lady Flames' middle-of-the-pack showings at this past weekend's first USCSA Southeast Region competitions at Beech Mountain (N.C.) Resort. Meanwhile, Liberty's men's and women's skiers maintained their supremacy on the fresh snow, sweeping first place in both divisions of Saturday's Rail Jam and finishing first and second, respectively, in Sunday's Slopestyle competition.

"It was a good turnout and the weather and snow conditions were perfect, so it was a really fun weekend," Liberty second-year Head Coach Tyler Sherbine said. "I'm really excited and encouraged to see the work we've been putting in over the fall semester paying off, and getting to know this group of riders more."

In Saturday's Rail Jam, the Flames' and Lady Flames' skiers both struck gold with 9 team points, with the men defeating JMU (15), Virginia (31), and UNC Chapel Hill (52) and the women landing ahead of JMU (13), UVA (32), Duke (41), and UNC Chapel Hill (58).

The Flames earned two podium finishes from freshman overall champion Eli Malek who scored a 63-point run and senior silver medalist Coby Liebelt (60.50) while freshman Asa Greene (seventh, 47) and sophomore Blake Stillman (ninth, 46.5) were also in the top 10 out of 22 contestants.

"Eli Malek really competes well under pressure, and he was the most standout rider for our team overall," Sherbine said.

The Lady Flames finished 1-3-5 with senior Lauren Harder — who won a gold medal in the Rail Jam at the USCSA National Championships as a freshman before spending last season on the LU Dance team — taking first place with a run of 49.50. She was followed by senior teammate Josie Rich (third, 48.50) and senior Darah Osborne (fifth, 38.50).

The men's snowboard team totaled 16 points to finish runner-up to Lees-McRae (10) and ahead of Appalachian State (34), Virginia (45), JMU (54), and UNC Charlotte and UNC Chapel Hill, which tied with 60 points. Individually, the Flames placed three in the top seven with junior Evan Whitlow (45) edging sophomore Kyle Pafford (43.5) for fourth place and senior Zachary Ries (41) tying for seventh.

Graduate Maddie Morgan placed second individually in the women's snowboard Rail Jam with her 44.5 run, but the Lady Flames didn't have enough riders to score as a team.

"Everyone's getting comfortable as this was the newcomers' first time traveling to compete," Sherbine said. "After the first day, everyone got the jitters out and when it came to Slopestyle, everybody was relaxed on the second day."

Liberty's men's skiers won Sunday's Slopestyle competition with 9 team points, followed by JMU (14), Virginia (35), UNC Charlotte (46), and Duke (54). Individually, the Flames landed all five of their skiers in the top eight, with Malek's 73.5 first run edging JMU runner-up Nolan Working (71).

Stillman placed third with his second 64-point run, Liebelt tied for fifth with his 60-point first run, and Greene landed in seventh with his 58.5 first run.

Highlighted by Rich's 66-point first-place individual run and Harder's fourth-place performance (42.5), Liberty's women's skiers finished runner-up to JMU (10 points) with 22 points, ahead of UVA (24), Duke (38), and UNC Charlotte (50).

"Lauren Harder did really well, especially in the Rail Jam," Sherbine said. "Her rides were impressive, and she is huge asset to the team."
Pafford finished fourth in Sunday's men's snowboard Slopestyle event with 61 points to pace the Flames to a fifth-place team finish with 40 points, behind Lees-McRae (14), UNC Charlotte (21), Virginia (27), and JMU (32).

Next weekend, Liberty will host two USCSA Southeast Region competitions with a Rail Jam on Saturday followed by a Big Air event Sunday at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.

Then on Feb. 15, the Flames and Lady Flames will travel to Massanutten Resort near Harrisonburg, Va., for another USCSA regular-season competition before the Southeast Regional Championships are set for Feb. 21-23 at Wintergreen Resort, where Liberty team members have season passes.

That will serve as the qualifier for the March 10-15 USCSA National Championships at Mt. Batchelor in Bend, Ore.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer