The Kimberley Freestyle Ski Club has had a tough go ever since Kimberley Alpine Resort introduced its no jump policy in 2007.

The Club has taken its members to Panorama for aerial training in the past, but that has been expensive and time-consuming. It has proved successful however, with local skier Zak Mousseau earning a spot on the BC Team and now training in Whistler and the Okanagan.

With freestyle now an Olympic sport, more and more kids are drawn to it, and the Kimberley Freestyle Club wants to offer training right here in Kimberley, so the decision has been made to focus on skills that can be practiced on the terrain available locally.

This year, the Club will focus on Rails, Moguls and Freeride skiing that can be practiced on the home hill and they are hoping to entice more local youth to join the fun.

Coaching sessions will be offered every Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can register at Kootenay Cycle Works (Posers) in the Platzl.

A lot of great freestylers like Zak Mousseau have come out of Kimberley. Coaching the team this year will be Luka Sinhart, who says he began skiing at the age of five and got his first lesson from Steve Norton. He has been skiing for 14 years now and coaching for three. He is very excited about the upcoming season and hopes to see some new faces among the kids.