Einstein student set to compete in IFSA North American Freeride Skiing Championships

12 year old Lillian Nimmer executing a move called the Cossack
 at the Alpental Freeride Open
Photo by Steve Kelly

Local Freeride Skier Lillian Nimmer is set to represent the Pacific Northwest in the IFSA North American Freeride Championships in Kirkwood, California April 5-8, 2017.

Lillian skis in the 12-14 year old Division of the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association, competing against skiers from around the US and Canada.

She is currently ranked #8 in North America.

Lillian, left, came in second last weekend at the Alpental Freeride Open
Photo by Rick Nimmer

Lillian Podiumed at The Canadian Junior Freeskiing Championships at Red Mountain, The Jim Jack Cowboy Up at Stevens Pass, The IFSA Regional at Crystal Mountain, The IFSA Mount Baker Regional, The Whistler National Freeride Challenge, and the Alpental Freeride Open.

She finished the regular season last weekend participating in the Alpental Freeride Open.

Lillian in mid air on a jump at Alpental
Photo by Steve Kelly

Freeriding, sometimes billed as Extreme Skiing, is skiing on natural terrain with no set course. There are no practice runs and adult skiers have only a visual inspection of the course before they go down, taking the route as it comes.

According to the Freeride World Tour,

The rules are simple. Start at the top. Finish at the bottom.

Runs are judged using five subjective criteria: Line, Fluidity, Control, Air and Style, Technique, which means that any approach or style has the potential to win.

Lillian is sponsored by Seattle Ski in Shoreline
Owner Brian McQueen holds her trophy from the Alpental Freeride Open.
Lillian holds her Crystal Mountain trophy.

At the Junior level at which Lillian completes, skiers are allowed to physically inspect the venue the day prior and the morning of the competition, but they are not allowed to ski it at full speed until the competition begins.

Lillian began skiing when she was three and has been freeriding since 2014.

She skis for NW Freeride/Alpental at Snoqualmie Pass. Her coach is Wayne Grevey of NW Freeride. She is sponsored by Seattle Ski in Shoreline and her Mom and Dad, Rick and Leslie Nimmer of Shoreline. 

Lillian attends Einstein Middle School in Shoreline.

Correction: Lillian is 12 years old, not 14