Sixteen year old Bryce Lewis spent his school holidays competing in Free Ride events in the New Zealand Junior National Series where he placed 1st in the Big Mountain, 2nd in the Slopestyle and 3rd in the Pipe events.

While the Jindabyne Central School student returned to school this week to begin his HSC studies he still has fresh in his memory his first place win over his New Zealand competitors- not bad for his first trip overseas.

“I competed against all New Zealand kids there were no other Aussie’s in the Free Ride,” Bryce said.

“I was pretty surprised to win the Big Mountain because the level was pretty good and the scores were very close.”

Perisher ski instructor Hugh Dowdall accompanied Bryce on the 14-day trip and during the Junior National Series held at Cardrona.’

Earlier this year Bryce came second in the Thredbo Rail Comp junior division, although forever the perfectionist, he was not overly delighted with the result and aims to go one better next year.

“I wouldn’t mind going back to New Zealand next year,” Bryce adds.

Bryce has been sponsored by Time2Ride owner Shay Paxton for the past two years and is also coached by Perisher ski instructor Corey Jenkins.

“I’d like to thank Corey, Hugh and Shay for everything. My mum has been great too even though she doesn’t ski she still comes to watch me,” Bryce said.

He aims to secure a spot on The Camp, a group of talented skiers, who will compete in California and or Japan next year. In the long term Bryce dreams of one day seeing Free Riding events such as The Park and The Pipe in the Winter Olympics.

“There is talk it will be included in the Olympics in 2014,” he said.

For now, with the season now over, Bryce said he will have more time to spend on this other hobby- skateboarding and of course there will be HSC studies to begin before the snow starts to fall again.