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Locke makes World Tour

Slopes of Europe, brace yourself. Banff snowboarder Michelle Locke has become the first Canadian woman to earn a spot on the Free Ride World Tour.

Slopes of Europe, brace yourself.

Banff snowboarder Michelle Locke has become the first Canadian woman to earn a spot on the Free Ride World Tour.

Locke clinched the spot with a second-place finish at Wrangle the Chute at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, earning the overall IFSA/FWQ title for 2015 and punching a ticket to three Free Ride World Tour starts in 2016.

“This is pretty much the biggest dream made reality for me. I’ve worked for seven years for this. I’m on a huge high right now,” Locke said.

After revamping her training regime and overcoming injuries at Christmas, Locke was a force in every qualifier she entered. She finished fourth in the first qualifier of the year in New Mexico, and followed up with a first-place win in Crested Butte, where she basically skied down a rockface with nary a hint of snow.

Locke captured the Lake Louise free ride title for the fourth year in a row, a non-qualifying race, then clinched her spot with a second-place finish at Kicking Horse.

“I kind of had a feeling it would work this year,” Locke said.

Many of the southern resorts suffered a severe lack of snow this year, which hindered competition. However, they didn’t deter Locke from executing her plan.

“Crap conditions are my specialty,” Locke said. “I ride them well and strong. I’m pretty confident when the conditions are crap.”

The Crested Butte win was her biggest of the year, she said, as it was her first in the lower 48 states. She rode conservatively on the first day to earn a trip to the finals, but then tore up the competition – and her snowboard.

“I was fourth going into day two. With the conditions, it was go big or go home, so I wanted to do something to impress the judges. I picked a line that not even a lot of guys tried. It was a super steep rocky cliff and I was riding on solid rock,” Locke said. “I trashed my board pretty badly. I think I need a board sponsor for next year.”

She was pushed by a new crop of riders, who showed up hungry at each event. Many tour vets took the year off.

“There were some new riders who were fearless, but not as calculating or seasoned. You got to know who your real competition was pretty fast,” Locke said. “The younger girls were doing tricks and spins. I think my forte is getting into gnarly lines and executing them all. I hope to incorporate spins for next year. This year, I knew what I had to do, and I did it. I’m proud of that.”

Overseas, Locke said it’s a different level altogether, but she’s ready for the next challenge. Much of the tour is paid for, but she’ll still have to cover her flights, and plans a fundraiser for fall.

“Those girls (overseas) are world champions, Olympic gold medallists … they are a whole different league, but I feel I will progress a lot and hope I don’t get off the tour for 10 years,” Locke said.


Rocky Mountain Outlook

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