Injury halts young skier at world festival

The Daily Inter Lake

Whitefish slopestyle skier Mitch Gilman had a strong season finish at the TELUS World Ski and Snowboard Festival in British Columbia.

Gilman was the only Montana skier invited to the prestigious competition.

Competing against older athletes, Gilman, 12, was vying for a top-five finish until he fractured his thumb during a trick in the super pipe.

Amateurs and pros competed during the April 16-21 event on the Whistler Blackcomb resort's highest-level terrain park, super pipe and 55-foot big air jump.

Gilman was ranked 58th out of 90 competitors in the big air qualifier and he was tied for second out of 44 competitors going into the super pipe semifinals.

During the semifinals, Gilman was in the hunt for a top-five finish when he fell after a right-cork nine, fracturing his thumb.

The competition was the last of the season for Gilman, who had wins at the Rocky Mountain Divisional Championships in Aspen, Colo., and the U.S. Open Junior Jam at Copper Mountain, Colo.