Westport’s Reggie Yemma placed third in this weekend’s 13th Annual U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships at Crested Butte, Colo.
Reggie Yemma poses with her mother, Eileen, at the end of her final Crested Butte race. Contributed photo
The 17-year-old Staples senior finished a very close third, less than a point behind the winner in the junior girls division.
The event attracts some of the top big mountain freeskiers from across the world to Crested Butte for adrenaline-charged action held on the resort’s wildest terrain.
The two girls who got judged just ahead of her are both from Colorado ski towns. They skiied an area of the mountain Saturday that had not been skied in several years due to lack of snow.
“She said it was so scary she nearly cried when she saw it for the first time for her practice run, but she’s quite gutsy and conquered it like a pro,” said Andy Yemma, Reggie’s father.
“We’re quite proud of her and can’t want until they return home tonight to celebrate.”
Yemma, who won a ski jacket, $100 cash, ski poles and other items, is going to attend Colorado College in Colorado Springs next fall.
She has been a captain of the Staples girls cross-country and indoor track teams this season.
As a long time ski racer, I find the young lady’s accomplishment absolutely amazing.
When I was racing the top western ski racers came East because that was where the top competition was.
However, the extreme skiers always stayed in the West because that’s where the extreme terrain was.
For a girl from Westport CT to perform at such a high level against the best of trhe West, is truly extraordinary. I am in awe.