Page 26 - ESCARPMENT MAGAZINE | Winter 2013

26 Escarpment Magazine Winter 2013
Did you know that an Ontario athlete is the number one ranked Slopestyle skier on the
AFP (Association of Freeskiing Professionals) World Tour? Dara Howell, 18, of
Huntsville has been quietly taking names and kicking ass on the AFP World Tour
and FIS Freestyle World Cup circuit for several years now. Specializing in
Slopestyle and SuperPipe, Dara was the youngest female to compete at the
2012 Winter X Games. The talented ripper first turned heads when she
won silver in Halfpipe at the 2011 US Freestyle Champs in Stratton, Ver-
mont. She backed that up with a bronze in Slopestyle at the New Zealand
Winter Games in August 2012 (where she also placed 4th in pipe).
Dara recently earned the Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team its first
FIS World Cup podium of the season with a bronze medal perform-
ance in Slopestyle at The End of the World Challenge
in Ushuaia, Argentina, just this past September.
Dara’s parents put her on skis at only 18 months of age at
Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area. She was involved in the racing program from a very
young age and graduated to freestyle skiing soon after. With the majority of athletes
on the World Cup and professional skiing circuits hailing from mountainous locales, this
Ontario girl credits Southern Georgian Bay for preparing her to face the competition.
“Growing up on the Escarpment has helped me hone my skills for the world stage,” ex-
plains Dara. “I did my first competition here–it was an FSO (Freestlye Skiing Ontario)
Slopestyle competition at Craigleith Ski Club. I also got to train
at Blue Mountain, as they have a great terrain park. It’s the
perfect training environment for up-and-coming athletes.”
As a member of the Canadian National Slopestyle Team, Dara
is coached by Ontario’s Toben Sutherland who was her coach
during her time on the Ontario Park and Pipe Team. Looking
ahead to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia,
Dara is gaining momentum, confidence and the reputation as a
serious contender.
Dara is grateful to her sponsors, Roxy, Salomon, Sport Canada,
as well as her family for the monetary support they provide, “I
would really like to thank my parents, my brother, my grand-
parents, the Sasson family and the community of Huntsville for
everything they’ve done for me.” |E|
Dara - on top.
Canada's Dara Howell, Kaya Turski & Australia's Anna Segal - Euro X Games - Tignes, France - March 2012
FEATURE | dara on top
Story by Cara Williams Photos courtesy Dara Howell