The JFBB U12 team arrived at Elk Mountain on February 7, 2026, after a drive that felt like part of the event itself. Snow squalls rolled in early, visibility came and went, and reaching the parking lot was a small victory. By race time, temperatures sat at -3 degrees, with a wind chill plunging to -31. On a day like this, every decision mattered. Some decisions were about safety; others were about strategy. Glitter, as always, was about confidence. And these racers were confident.
The team fielded twelve boys and ten girls, supported by Coaches Jerre, Phil, Morgan, and Jordan. With a full roster and true winter conditions, the day was set to reward focus, flexibility, and grit.
Run 1: Flips and Firsts
Run 1 opened with commitment across the field, but the moment that stood out came from Owen and Sammy. Both made their first race flip in conditions that offered little comfort. With frozen goggles and numb fingers, each committed fully and skied through the moment with confidence. First flips are never routine and doing it in this cold made it even more impressive.
That composure carried through the rest of the run. On the girls’ side, Gabby, Delia, Hope, Kenzie, Estelle, and Ella all made the flip on the GS course. For the boys, in addition to Owen and Sammy, Kenji, Kayus, John, Keegan, James, and Kaydin all made the flip, closing out a strong and decisive first run for the team.
Run 2: No Reset, All In
Run 2 brought the defining call of the day. Coach Andrew, serving as TD for the race, championed a no-reset decision to keep racers, volunteers, and coaches safe in the extreme cold. The call eliminated a second inspection and kept racers indoors between runs, giving frozen toes a break and goggles a chance to thaw.
The racing heated up quickly. John delivered a standout second run, catapulting himself from 20th place to 7th. His time was the second fastest of Run 2, just behind teammate Kenji. Let’s go, JFBB!
Momentum spread across the field. Keegan, James, and Kaydin moved up the standings, as did Hope, Ella, Sammy, Lana, and Lillian. By the end of Run 2, the leaderboard reflected adaptability as much as speed.
Podiums and Top Finishes
Girls
- 🥈 2nd Place: Gabby
- ⭐ Top 10 Finishes: Delia, Hope
*Kenzie finished just outside the top 10, continuing to show the kind of consistency and drive that make her a racer to watch as the season moves on.
Boys
- 🥇 1st Place: Kenji
- ⭐ Top 10 Finish: John
Looking Ahead
The U12s, joined by the U10 team, will return to slalom at Montage, carrying confidence, momentum, and lessons learned from a demanding day at Elk Mountain. The cold, unfortunately, will be coming with them.