🔥 HOME TURF SHOWDOWN: TJFS RETURNS TO THE ‘WOOD 🔥
Tahoe Jr. Freeride Series — Stop #3
January 23–25, 2026
Location: Kirkwood Mountain Resort — The Cirque & Devil’s Corral
There is a specific vibration that hits you when you cross over the Carson spur or Pass and drop into the KirkwoodMtn valley. It’s raw. It’s authentic. It’s the feeling of returning to the source.
And this weekend, that energy is about to hit the redline.
The Tahoe Jr. Freeride Series (TJFS) is back on home turf for Stop #3, returning to the proving grounds of Kirkwood Mountain Resort — a place that doesn’t just host freeride, but defines it. To be candid, the #StokeLevelRising is real.
🏔️ DEEP ROOTS & HALLOWED GROUND
Kirkwood isn’t just a resort — it’s a freeride crucible.
Long before the modern freeride circuit took shape, this mountain earned its reputation the hard way: steep fall lines, unpredictable weather, massive snow totals, and terrain that rewards creativity while punishing hesitation. This is where judgment matters. Where line choice separates confidence from consequence.
The Cirque and Devil’s Corral are hallowed ground — terrain that has hosted some of the most consequential moments in big-mountain history, including:
North Face Masters
Multiple Freeride World Tour 2★, 3★, 4★, and 5★ competitions
The legendary Rahlves Banzai Tour, where speed, flow, and survival instinct collide
This is also the mountain shaped by visionaries and stewards like Bud Klein and Dick Reuter, who helped cement Kirkwood’s no-nonsense, athlete-driven culture. A place that has always rewarded those willing to earn their turns.
When athletes drop in here, they aren’t just skiing a venue — they’re stepping into a lineage.
🔥 WHAT THE TAHOE JR. FREERIDE SERIES IS ALL ABOUT
The TJFS is more than a competition circuit — it’s a development pipeline for the next generation of freeride athletes across the Sierra and Far West. Sanctioned under IFSA standards, athletes are judged on:
Line
Control
Technique
Fluidity
Style & Energy
Beyond the scorecard, TJFS builds mountain sense, confidence, and community. Fierce competition paired with deep respect — for the terrain, for one another, and for the culture that makes freeride what it is.
There is no better classroom for that lesson than Kirkwood.
🚀 TOP OF THE CLASS — THE TAHOE JR. FREERIDE CLASS OF 2026
This weekend isn’t just about podiums — it’s about a generation.
The Tahoe Jr. Freeride Class of 2026 is stacked top to bottom with athletes who have earned their place in the start gate. No passengers. No placeholders. Every rider here has put in the work — storm days, early mornings, long drives, and countless reps.
🎿 THE SKIERS
Sutton Colletta (OV Three) — Smooth, calculated, and composed, Sutton blends technical precision with confident flow and purposeful execution.
Dax Rio Willard (Palisades Tahoe) — Fast, dynamic, and fearless, Dax turns complex terrain into clean, flowing lines.
Kip Walbrun (Kirkwood Freeride) — Grounded and powerful, Kip pairs home-mountain knowledge with confident big-mountain decision-making.
Sebastian Baranchuk (Sugar Bowl) — Creative and steady under pressure, Sebastian brings strong fundamentals and instinctive line shape.
Elan Tanhoff (Sugar Bowl) — Technically sharp and composed, Elan delivers clean execution with consistent control.
Zaden Lockett (Independent) — Bold and intuitive, Zaden commits with confidence and reads terrain naturally.
Jake Mullens (Kirkwood Freeride) — Methodical and polished, Jake thrives when the venue gets steep and serious.
Aiden Sommers (Mammoth Mountain) — Built by high-alpine terrain, Aiden blends speed, power, and technical awareness.
Norah Hinson (Mammoth Mountain) — Focused and aggressive, Norah brings strength and intention to every turn.
Ellery Zanto (Palisades Tahoe) — Fluid and confident, Ellery makes demanding lines look effortless.
Anya Kang (Palisades Tahoe) — Calm and creative, Anya delivers thoughtful execution with smooth, flowing style.
Kaia Mullens (Kirkwood Freeride) — Precise and composed, Kaia skis home terrain with confidence and clarity.
Charlotte Caruthers (Palisades Tahoe) — Strong and purposeful, Charlotte combines balance, control, and momentum.
🏂 THE SNOWBOARDERS
Cass Jones (Palisades Tahoe) — Stylish and fluid, Cass blends expressive riding with confident control.
Pasha Meydbray (Palisades Tahoe) — Fearless and intuitive, Pasha thrives on steep, technical features.
Caden Rooney (Palisades Tahoe) — Fast and decisive, Caden pushes pace while staying composed.
Coco Rooney (Palisades Tahoe) — Expressive and smooth, Coco pairs strong board control with natural flow.
Tessa Cullerton (Sugar Bowl) — Technically sharp and poised, Tessa rides with rhythm and precision.
Zaria Steeves (Palisades Tahoe) — Powerful and purposeful, Zaria brings authority and commitment to every line.
This field doesn’t just ride the venue — they engage it.
A Kirkwood TJFS stop carries a unique pulse.
This weekend, the full ecosystem is in place:
CJ & Coop on the mic, keeping the finish corral buzzing
Coaches reading snow and dialing strategy
Judges locked in on execution and intent
Randy Calvin holding it down at the start gate, keeping the flow tight and the #StokeLevelHigh
It’s freeride the way it’s meant to be — family, friends, and full commitment.
🌤 WEEKEND WEATHER — BIG-MOUNTAIN CONDITIONS
According to the National Weather Service forecast for Kirkwood / Carson Pass:
Friday Night: Mostly clear, lows near 21°F, light east winds — firm, fast setup
Saturday: Bluebird conditions, sunny with a high near 35°F, ridge-top breezes
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, lows near 18°F
Sunday: Increasing clouds, warmer with a high near 43°F, lighter winds and excellent visibility
No major storms in play — meaning #FIRM&FAST surfaces, clean landings, and a premium freeride canvas.
🏁 CLOSING RALLY — LEGACY IN MOTION
When the Tahoe Jr. Freeride Class of 2026 drops into Devil’s Corral this weekend, they’re doing more than competing — they’re carrying Kirkwood’s freeride legacy forward.
This is the same terrain that forged legends, hosted the world’s best, and demanded respect long before freeride had a name. Now it’s shaping the next chapter — and the future looks confident, creative, and unafraid.
The #StokeLevelRising isn’t just a hashtag — it’s a feeling echoing off these walls.
So come by. Bring the noise. Say what-up in the corral. Be part of it.
The Cirque is calling — and this class is answering.
– Coop
