Industry News
Sidney Simard is not (yet) a household name, but the 19-year-old from Montana has just been crowned the best skier in the country and is setting his sights on being the best in the world.
The 19-year-old from Cooke City, Montana, just came off a win at a Freeride World Tour qualifying event in Argentina, which put him firmly at the top of the US pile of free-riders.
Free-ride is a competition where riders ski down the face of a mountain and get judged on their performance. As it’s not a timed event, riders are judged on things like fluidity, style, and energy.
Free-ride skiing has allowed him to travel all over the world to places like Europe, Chile, and Andora, leading to all sorts of adventures and experiences.
“I’ve met some really cool people,” Simard said. “It’s awesome to meet people from all over the world and their perspectives on skiing and how they ski. I’ve been skiing pretty much since I was 1 year old, my parents put me on skis before I could walk, so I’ve been skiing almost all my life”.
In order to keep his ranking during the summer, one might think Simard would be training non-stop. His regimen, then, may surprise you. He likes to do a lot of climbing and hiking, and keep active on his job as a landscaper.
In the winter he skis at Bridger Bowl Ski Area and hopes to achieve his main goal.
“The peak would be the Free-Ride World Tour probably. But I’m just excited to be able to compete,” he said.
And he can get closer to that goal as his next competition is in January. But he can’t go alone. Since he’s only 19 years old, his parents go with him.
