Hood River Valley High School sophomore Sean FitzSimons has been invited by US Snowboarding to represent the United States in the International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard Junior World Championship for slopestyle in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic. The FIS Snowboard Junior World Championship is a slopestyle event by invitation only taking, place March 26 to April 2.
FitzSimons earned the invitation from his results during the 2016-17 Toyota US Revolution tour competitions. Over the course of four Revolution Tour events, his results steadily improved. FitzSimons’ slopestyle results were 19th in the first event, 11th in the second event, fourth in the third event, and second the final event at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania on March 10. The final results caused him to finish second in the Revolution Tour and also secured him an invite to the World Rookie Tour Finals in Kitzsteinhorn, Austria. The 2017 World Rookie Tour Finals take place from April 4-9.
FitzSimons began skiing soon after he could walk and turned to snowboarding full time at 8 years old. FitzSimons has competed in USA Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) events since then, winning the national championship for his age group for halfpipe and slopestyle when he was 13.
Since winning the championship in his age group at the USASA Nationals, he has completed the next level of events, the Toyota US Revolution Tour.
“Sean has been fortunate to have been supported and continued to be supported by the Hood River community and his coaches at the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation,” said his father, Mike, who coaches the HRV freestyle ski team. “Additionally, Sean has had the support of his sponsors: Gnu Snowboards, Mt. Hood Meadows, Spy Optics, and Doug’s Sports.”
FitzSimons is scheduled to travel to Prague on March 24, where he will meet the US team and US Rookie Coach Dave Reynolds. There he will compete for one week in the FIS Snowboard Junior Roles slopestyle event in Spindleruv. After competing in the FIS Snowboards Junior Roles Championship, he will travel to the World Rookie Finals in Kitzsteinhorn, Austria. He will return to Oregon on April 10.
Kickstand Coffee and Kitchen is hosting a fundraising event March 17 from 6-9 p.m. to help raise money for the travel and competition expenses. Local artists and retailers will donate products to be sold at the event.
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