Rachael Karker in Kitzsteinhorn, Austria. Photo by Brendan Mackay.

New Heights

by Cara Williams

Fueled by passion, grit, and a tight-knit community, Ontario freestyle skiers are proving that even the smallest hills can launch big talent. 

In the wider skiing world, we might be viewed as lowlanders. While we lack towering mountain ranges, Escarpment clubs have proven that fostering ski talent goes beyond just the vertical. Forget the Rockies—with seven Ontario athletes on the Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team, one thing is clear: freestyle skiing has firmly taken root on the Escarpment, rivaling Canada’s top programs. 

Despite our modest hills and unpredictable winters, a passionate community of skiers, coaches, and volunteers has built a strong foundation here, paving the way for local athletes to excel on the national stage. “We’re definitely seeing growth in membership, and our programs are getting stronger each year,” says Eli Budd, Executive Director of Freestyle Ontario. 

It’s not hard to see why. With terrain parks and designated mogul runs popping up across the Escarpment, our clubs and resorts have become bona fide training grounds for future Olympians. “Freestyle is uniquely suited to our hills,” Eli adds. “You can have a great mogul course or big air jump on a smaller slope, and it’s that adaptability that’s helped us build such a strong program.” 

One family that embodies this success is that of Bruce and Megan Oldham. “Growing up, I had to be creative to keep up with skiers from bigger mountain areas,” says Bruce, who has been on the national team since 2023 and already has a top-five finish in a World Cup slopestyle event. “Ontario’s freestyle scene may not have the big mountains or jumps, but it’s very effective for mastering the basics and putting in the hard miles.” 

Evan McEachran in Stubai, Austria. Photo by FIS Freestyle.

His sister Megan, now a seven-time X Games medalist, three-time World Championship medalist, and recent record-setter as the first woman to land a triple cork—accomplishing three off-axis flips and earning a perfect score of 50—fondly recalls those early days. “Even small things, like getting carpool rides to the ski hill, parents of another athlete letting me crash at their house on weekends, or families bringing potluck meals to the hill were impactful for me as an athlete,” she says. “I owe a lot of my success to the community that surrounded me through my rise in the sport.” Megan’s journey reflects this support—she placed fourth at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, adding yet another milestone to her impressive career.

Rachael Karker’s journey from Escarpment halfpipes to the Olympic podium is nothing short of remarkable. “My brothers and I all started in ski racing and I loved it,” says Rachael. “In my teens, park and pipe were becoming popular, and we had a bunch of [local] parks to choose from. I skied at Blue Mountain through these years, and their park setups were key in me developing the skills necessary to move onto bigger features at big mountains.” This foundation propelled her to international success, culminating in a bronze medal in Beijing, along with four X Games and two World Championship podium finishes.

Believe it or not, Ontario’s limited vertical comes with its own advantages. “The small hills allowed for short lap times and night skiing, where I could train after school,” says Rachael. This accessibility, combined with the flexible training schedules offered by local clubs and resorts, has helped Ontario evolve into a freestyle powerhouse. Take Evan McEachran from Craigleith, who has six World Cup podiums, including a win last season, along with numerous X Games medals and two Winter Olympic appearances. Meanwhile, Caledon’s Max Moffatt continues to excel internationally, with three World Cup medals in slopestyle, an X Games silver, and a fourth-place finish at the 2023 World Championships.

Berkley Brown in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Photo by Gary Yee.

Ontario’s legacy in moguls skiing is just as impressive as our park and pipe game, with athletes like Berkley Brown leading the charge. Now competing on the World Cup circuit, Berkley credits her roots at Beaver Valley Ski Club for laying the foundation of her career. “As a mogul skier, it was crucial to have access to a mogul course. Beaver Valley always had a passion for their mogul program and allowed us to have private training sessions on Fridays. It was a highlight of my time there,” she says. 

Since making Team Canada in 2017, Berkley has taken her training to international venues, but her Ontario roots remain a cornerstone of her success. “Ontario’s freestyle community has that drive and passion like no other,” she reflects. After moving to Craigleith Ski Club in 2020, Berkley found further support for her World Cup journey, with the club sponsoring her travel and competition efforts. “I currently ski there when I’m home with my family, and I’m extremely grateful for their support,” she says. 

Support from local businesses has been equally crucial for athletes chasing their dreams. “Corbetts Ski + Snowboard has been an incredible supporter of mine for many years, outfitting me from head to toe with everything I need—from equipment and base layers to soft goods,” says Charlie Beatty, a rising talent who recently clinched gold at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games and the FIS Park & Pipe Junior Worlds. “Beyond the gear, they’ve also been there to cheer me on and actively support local athletes like myself. Whether it’s attending fundraising events or just being part of the community, their commitment has played a huge role in helping me pursue my dreams.” 

Megan Oldham in Laax, Switzerland. Photo by Noah Wallace.

What distinguishes Ontario’s freestyle program is not just the calibre of its athletes, but the unique community framework that sustains it. Unlike some sports where training often shifts to elite, private academies, freestyle skiing thrives on its grassroots approach. With a combination of not-for-profit clubs, for-profit teams, and resort partnerships, Ontario’s freestyle programs are a testament to the balance of passion and structure. Some clubs focus on introducing young skiers to the sport, while others push competitive boundaries. “We’re here to provide the framework for clubs to grow at their own pace,” Eli explains. “The decision to focus on grassroots or competitive training is up to each club, and we’re here to support them.” One of these grassroots programs, Sapling Sessions, is Freestyle Ontario’s series of weekend clinics held at resorts across the province. Designed for intermediate skiers ages seven and up, these clinics introduce young athletes to the fundamentals of freestyle skiing, with training in terrain parks, half-pipes, and moguls. The aim here is to build skiing skills while focusing on progression, creativity, fun, and athletic development—values that Freestyle Ontario champions for all its participants. Keep an eye out for the green jerseys on a slope near you; you might just witness a future Olympian in the making! 

The Timber Tour is Ontario’s premier provincial freestyle ski competition series, featuring athletes of all ages, including some as young as eight. It provides a platform for participants to earn a spot in Freestyle Ontario’s RPA Ranking System, tracking their progress within the provincial freestyle landscape. This system tracks their progress and provides a platform to advance and sharpen their skills. This athlete-focused circuit kicks off with moguls at Camp Fortune from January 10-12, followed by slopestyle competitions at Beaver Valley Ski Club from January 17-19 and Mount St. Louis Moonstone from January 31-February 2. As the season continues, Calabogie Peaks Resort will host another moguls event from February 7-9. The tour culminates in a national-level mogul event at Horseshoe Valley Resort from February 21-23, bringing together the country’s top non-national team athletes for a high-stakes competition. 

Once athletes reach the provincial team level, their opportunities for growth expand significantly. They participate in multiple training camps within Ontario and, when necessary, travel abroad to locations with larger features to further their development. This past summer, the team traveled to New Zealand to maximize training opportunities during Ontario’s off-season.

Charlie Beatty in Gangwon, South Korea. Photo by Dave Holland/COC.

This spring, Horseshoe Valley Resort will debut a cutting-edge airbag training facility, which will allow athletes to safely practice tricks—even when the snow is gone. “It’s a game-changer,” says Eli. “Ontario athletes now have an off-season training option right here at home, reducing the need for costly trips out west.” The facility features a 50m x 22m Bagjump® airbag, jumps designed by Park Degree, a JF Dry ski slope, and trampolines for year-round practice, setting a new standard for freestyle training on the Escarpment.

Freestyle Ontario’s partnerships with brands like Corbetts Ski + Snowboard, Swany, and Line, along with unwavering community support, play a crucial role in keeping the sport accessible and vibrant. “It’s incredible to see our clubs, volunteers, and local communities come together to create an environment where athletes can thrive,” says Eli. And the athletes are taking this into their own hands too—in addition to competing for Canada, Bruce Oldham founded Slope Academy, a community-driven program to help young athletes progress. “I wanted to create a way for athletes to learn from some of the best skiers, get 24/7 feedback, and gain insights into the industry,” he explains. “Everything from sponsorships and ski-specific workouts to brand building on social media.”

Ontario may lack high alpine terrain, but the province has produced a national roster of athletes who are redefining what it means to ski and train on smaller slopes. “Our winters may be shorter, our hills smaller, but freestyle skiing is perfectly suited to what we have,” says Eli. “With community support adaptability, we’re able to foster talent and consistently see Ontario athletes move on to the national stage.”

For those interested in joining the movement, Freestyle Ontario welcomes everyone—whether you’re a skier, parent, or spectator—through its website, where you can find information on membership, coaching, and upcoming events. Ontario’s freestyle community is proving that, with heart and dedication, even the smallest hills can send athletes soaring. E