Make or Break Time for Michaela Davis-Meehan with Freeride Qualifying Finals Starting This Week

March 13th, 2022
Michaela Davis-Meehan enjoying the freshies in Revelstoke in mid-January. . Photo: Tom Poole

Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss

For Australian snowboarder Michaela Davis-Meehan her rookie year on the Freeride World Tour in 2020 was all she had hoped for, starting off with a bang when she finished second in the first event of the tour in Hakuba. Michaela backed that up with a win in the third event in Andorra, finishing the year ranked number two in the world. 

However life as professional snow athlete is never predictable and last year, due to Covid travel restrictions, the Hakuba and Kicking Horse events didn’t happen and the tour was reduced to three events and a final in Verbier. Michaela missed the cut for Verbier and the finished the year in sixth place, failing to requalify.

However Michaela is determined to make it back on tour and has spent the past few months in Canada, competing in qualifying events. She has progressed through to the three-event finals, the first which is on this week in Crystal Mountain, Washington. It’s a winner-take-all situation but Michaela is handling the pressure and we caught up with her on the eve of the finals.

 

Michaela, taking in the view in the BC backcountry.

 You’ve decided to base yourself in British Columbia this northern hemi winter. In the past you’ve spent a lot of time in Europe – why the change?

I love Europe and always have a great time there, but after shredding there a few years in a row I wanted to mix things up, see new places and ride new faces.

You’ve spent most of your time in Revelstoke, a good place to mix it up. How’s it been over there, enjoying it?

I definitely made some good choices this season on where to spend my winter. I arrived in Revy at the start of a snow storm and it never seemed to stop! I can’t remember the last time I had this many pow days in a season!!! It’s been AMAZING!

Who have you been riding with?

Got a bit of a crew going over here. Shredding with ski and snowboard mates including Aussie skier Billy Lloyd-Blainey. Together we make team AUS at the FWQ events.

Good to see Billy’s there flying the flag with you.  Have had the chance to head into the backcountry?

There’s so much backcountry to explore here and I have barely grazed the surface. I can only bring so much over from Australia and the split board didn’t make it this time around, but next time I’ll be bringing it and doing a bunch more for sure!

 

Michaela Davis-Meehan, making the most of her time in between Freeride events , chasing pow near Revelstoke in January Photo: Laura Szanto

The Freeride World Tour is pretty brutal. You finished in 2nd place in your first year in 2020, winning the comp in Andorra. Then you were 6th in your second year – missing by a place and not requalifying. It looks like it’s really hard to get on the tour, but easy to fall off.

Yes, it is very brutal. It would be great if they took the top 2 through to FWT instead of just one, that would take the edge off a tiny bit. This year they have changed the format so the riders who didn’t re qualify for the FWT can come straight to the finals for a chance to re qualify straight away. Rather than do what I have had to do and spend a whole season back on the qualifying tour.

Well it’s down to the wire for you now to make it back on the World Tour. You’ve have had a couple of 2nd places in 4-star events – are you happy with your results and riding?

Competing in region 2 (Nth America) with a different judging panel I’ve had to figure out how they judge the runs as I feel it’s a little different to Europe. I’m feeling good with my riding and it’s been tough for everyone with some not so great snow conditions on comp days. But I’m all warmed up and ready for finals!

 

Michaela, left, two second places in lead up events, but needs to lock in a win in the finals.

Like you said, they’ve changed the qualifying tour this year with the FWQ finals. There are three events each region, Europe and the Americas. What do you need to do to qualify for next year’s FWT?

I need to WIN! All points go back to zero and they take your best two out of three results. Only one rider will qualify for the World Tour.

Your finals are back-to-back, one week apart, all in the US – Crystal, Big Sky and Kirkwood – a pretty packed calendar. Have you ridden any of those resorts before?

It will be my first time at all the resorts. Looking forward to it, and then just going to wing it and see what everyone else is up to the weeks in-between comps and shred some new places.

And then back to Australia at the end of April. What’s the plan at home this winter?

I haven’t planned that far ahead yet. All I know is that I still have to work at some point to help fund my snow addiction.

 Well, good luck in the finals. Hope it all goes well and you’re back on the FWT next year. Thanks for talking to us and see you in the mountains this winter. 

Thanks so much. See you on the slopes