Telluride Synchronized Ski Team

The 2nd Annual Telluride World Synchro Championship was hosted by the Telluride Synchronized Ski Team - a nonprofit organization - and featured seven competitive teams representing the ski and snowboard schools at Telluride and Aspen.

The Telluride Synchronized Ski Team is dedicated to scholarship, inclusivity, and inspiration - its mission is to promote the enjoyment and inclusiveness of skiing and riding and to contribute to its growth by supporting competitive synchronized ski and ride teams.

The competitive teams at the 2025 TWSC included:

Telluride Ghostriders

Telluride Tempters

Telluride Benders

Aspen Divas

San Juan Sundancers

Palmyra Prowlers

Aspen Divaettes

The competition consists of three scored components that combines for an overall team score: race, bumps, and synchro.

The race competition consists of four athletes from each team. These four individuals combine their official race course times to a team score.

The bump competition consists of two athletes from each team. These two individuals are scored in five categories: aggression & speed, technique, control & precision, line choice, and impression & showmanship.

The synchro competition — 70% of the overall team score — features each team of six or eight athletes performing synchronized routines. The routines are scored in five categories: synchronicity, technique, overall appearance, degree of difficulty, and deductions.

The Aspen Divas, captained once again by Russ Kauf but featuring a team of veteran skiers, stormed into the competition with a bang. Aspen Diva Ania Danikiewicz placed 1st in the Race Competition alongside teammate Gabriella Zaharko, who placed 5th.

But the Aspen Divas were no match for the consistent racing of the Telluride Ghostriders. Defying age and modern medicine, Ghostrider John Balmain continued his TWSC success with a 2nd Place finish in the Race Competition, followed tightly by teammate Alex Burt.

Heading into the afternoon on Day 1 of TWSC, in which the bumps were contested, tensions flared. The Bump Competition moved to double-black terrain for the first time in either AWSC or TWSC history and was held on Happy Thought on the Apex Lift (Chair 6). These irregularly sized and shaped moguls challenged athletes and led to the Telluride Benders coach, Emile Lessard, challenging the margin of victory for his 1st Place finisher, Rogan O’Herlihy. Tensions were soothed soon after, as a 1st Place finish is virtuous regardless. There are three things in the world we don’t want to know how they are made: sausages, laws, and successful bump runs.

Placing 2nd and 3rd in the Bump Competition were the Ghostriders, although roles-reversed: Alex Burt bested his teammate John Balmain. The combined efforts of these two athletes gave the Ghostriders a perfect score on Day 1 of the 2025 TWSC.

The TWSC featured six judges who have been recognized for tremendous local and international achievements. Their dedication to the ski and snowboard industry is without comparison and TWSC is grateful for their commitment to excellence.

Georgie Leel, Head Judge

APSI Alpine Examiner

Nev Leel

APSI Alpine Examiner

Karina Alder

AADDIDES Alpine Examiner

Amber Aldercotte

PSIA Alpine Examiner

Vince Boelema

PSIA Alpine Trainer

Michael Blanton

AASI Snowboard Examiner

The Synchro Competition of 2025 TWSC was a tighter competition that the inaugural TWSC. With the Telluride Tempters, Telluride Benders, and Aspen Divas having formed more tradition in their team, lasting commitment to each other and the sport, and experience gained over recent years, these three teams gave the Ghostriders a scare for the Overall Champion prize.

The Telluride Tempters won the Synchro Competition with new uniforms, new swagger, and elevated skiing. Coach Sem Walls of New Zealand and Telluride choreographed new, challenging routines with veteran skiers throughout the lineup: Malin Colliander, Rebecca Purkey, Meg Hyatt, and Katja Haugen. While the adage “the best synchro wins”, the Ghostriders’ stellar Day 1 performance was the moment of truth: the Ghostriders won the 2025 TWSC with the slimmest of margins.

The Telluride World Synchro Championshp has many thanks to its partners, sponsors, and supporters. We wish to thank the following:

Telluride Ski and Golf Resort

Telluride Ski and Snowboard School

Telluride Ski and Golf Resort, Mountain Operations

Brown Dog Pizza

Element 52

Chuck Horning, Owner of the Telluride Ski and Golf Resort

Tim Williams, Director of the Telluride Ski and Snowboard School

Bart Steck, NASTAR Supervisor

Carson Taylor, Director of Mountain Sales at the Telluride Ski and Golf Resort

Madison Waller

Matt Blackman

Macy Brooks

Chino Martinez

Brett Scheckengost

Suchitra Baker

The Skalla Family

The Gallagher Family

Telluride Synchronized Ski Team

telluridesynchroskiteam@gmail.com