We returned for our second helping of the Arc'teryx Freestyle Academy in St Anton after gettting a taste of it last year. This year was different though, new Arcteryx athletes in attendance, new clinics and in addition Robin Van Gyn (Arcteryx Athlete) was putting on a special pre-qualifier event for her RnD Search event in Canada coming up soon, searching for the best female freeride and freestyle riders where the overall winner out in Nelson, BC would get a ticket to Natural Selection Tour!

So for day 1 of the Academy I managed to get an invite to join Robin and the 5 European female riders she had hand picked to compete, Léa Klaue, Celia Petrig, Laura Hebbel, Celina Weber and Tiphanie Perrotin. We spent the day exploring the vast terrain of St Anton getting to watch them lace some steep technical lines and dropping cliffs on their first decents, as well as shaping up some backcountry booters to send it off. All 5 of them were inspiring to watch and it was a privalage to see it all go down in person. After the weekend was up Robin gave the top spot and an all expenses paid trip to Canada to the well deserved Celia Petrig.

Off the mountain the activities didn't slow down, after grabbing some drinks and a bite to eat at the Academy Village while the DJs spun their decks, their was the women's community evening, film night and plenty more drink tokens to cash in!

For Day 2 I was stoked to join Canadian young buck Sean Miskiman on his 'Side Hits Session' clinic, and although only 21 years old Sean was wise beyond his years. Not only in the mountain safety aspect as he started of our day with some very important lessons in avalanche search and rescue but also when it came to helping out the others on the clinic with tips and tricks to nail their first tries at spinning off side hits across the mountain side. He even got my rusty legs back in the sandle and sending it off these hits with the one and only Perly snapping shots, so how could I resist!

Day 2 wrapped up with a stop off at the infamous Apres bars of St Anton with a heavy crew of Arc'teryx athletes in tow. I reckon we sunk about 50+ Aperol Spritz within in a couple hours before we had to blindly ride down the last bit of the slope to arrive just a little late for the last dinner. I think it's the only way you should close out an Arc'teryx Academy weekend in St Anton, that is before going to the 'Bird Party' until 3am. 

Thanks Arc'teryx for another rad one and be sure to sign up next winter and we'll see you there. Photos by Perly and Henrieke Ibing and Matt Georges.