Asher Michel, a talented 18-year-old freestyle skier from Tabernash, made history at the FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships in Italy on April 5. Competing as part of the Winter Park Competition Center team, Michel impressed the world with his remarkable performance in Valmalenco, Italy.
Michel won third place in the moguls category, sharing the podium with some of the best athletes in the world, including Mateo Jeannesson and Daeyoon Jung. The following day, he also competed in dual moguls and secured fourth place in that event. These accomplishments cemented Michel’s position as one of the top freestyle skiers in the world for 2024.
This was Michel’s second time participating in the junior world championships, having previously won gold in team dual moguls race at Vermont’s Stratton Mountain Resort. Throughout the season, he had many other accomplishments, including earning gold in dual moguls at several NorAm Cup events across North America.
Another skier from Winter Park Competition Center, Olivia Maurais also participated in the championships and finished 14th in moguls and rose to seventh place in dual moguls. Michel’s performance was judged on criteria such as turns, air, and speed.
As he celebrated on the podium alongside some of the world’s best skiers after winning bronze in moguls and finishing fourth