The Whistler Freeride Club (WFC) continues to develop contenders at all levels, and Carden Tomic is proof of that. Tomic recently wrapped up his 2023 IFSA junior season ranked first overall in North America among boys aged 12 to 14 by collecting 4,335 points across his contests.
It's a landmark individual achievement, but just one of many solid outings by WFC athletes this year. Two other boys in the same age group, Samuel Hoad (ninth with 3,124 points) and Emmett Guy (15th with 2,754 points) joined Tomic in the IFSA's top 15.
Not to be outdone, a pair of Whistlerite girls put themselves in the mix as well. Regan Beattie checked in at seventh place (3,375 points), followed by Kyrra Tacilauskas in 12th (3,165 points).
A bright future
It's an exciting time for freeride in the Sea to Sky corridor. WFC alumni like Marcus Goguen, Wei Tien Ho and Jackson Bathgate have already locked up their places on the Freeride World Tour (FWT), with club members like Lukas Bennett and Drea Dimma hot on their heels. Tomic and his peers represent an even newer wave of talent, with goals just as lofty as their older counterparts.
"Carden gives his all to all of his athletic pursuits," explained Tomic's mother, Kate Saw. "He enjoys a variety of sports, but skiing is his passion. His motivation is to improve anytime he skis, to just keep building his skills and hopefully, one day, join the Freeride World Tour. He also draws motivation from encouraging and supporting his teammates.
"For Carden, [the achievements of older athletes] have made it tangible for him that success in freeride is a possibility. He looks up to them and sees that: 'hey, they can do it. I can get there too.'"
Saw remembers her son gallivanting around their family home with ski goggles on as a rambunctious two-year-old. His first ski lessons came soon after that point, and he officially joined the WFC for the 2021-22 campaign. Tomic has taken quickly and wholeheartedly to his newfound passion, just as his mother (who snowboards recreationally) has adjusted to being a freeride parent.
"If my kids are happy, I’ll be supportive," Saw affirmed. "I’ll admit that there is a certain level of risk that goes with freeride that is slightly terrifying as a parent, but the coaches discuss these risks with the kids. The kids aren’t just hucking themselves off a cliff and blindly hoping they will land: they carefully prepare for various drops and make assessments of the landings, speed, how to manoeuvre, etc., to stomp the landing. Carden will show me videos and discuss all of this, and there is definitely a level of analysis involved.
"Our entire family is extremely proud of Carden and the competition season he has had."
