Mountain Idol

Rosanna Crawford, 2009 Mountain Idol

The Mountain Idol initiative and getting youth outdoors is important from health and wellness, economic, and environmental standpoints. The trend toward a growing separation from nature is not only unhealthy from a physical standpoint, it's also unhealthy from a mental and spiritual standpoint. If our future decision makers have no physical connection to our natural resources they will be unprepared to make wise policy and budget decisions about them. Through Mountain Idol we are trying to positively inspire more youth to adopt a healthy, supportive, and active outdoor lifestyle, for their current and future well being.

As part of their honorary selection, Mountain Idol finalists and the 2010 Mountain Idol will receive recognition on stage at the Banff Mountain Festival, a cash award, and a selection of prizes from project sponsors.

• Find out how to nominate someone in the Bow Valley
• See our past Mountain Idol winners and finalists

Film and Media, Mountain Festival is searching for candidates for the fourth annual Mountain Idol initiative. The deadline for nominations is October 16, 2010, and the winner will be announced at the 2010 Banff Mountain Festival. We want your help to identify the Bow Valley's young mountain sports stars and role models to be named Mountain Idols.

Nomination Criteria

Nominees must be:

• Under the age of 23
• Currently residing in the geographic area between Lake Louise and Exshaw
• Athletes who excel in their mountain sports, including, biking, climbing, trail running, hiking, mountaineering, paddling, skiing or snowboarding
• Role models in their sport in that they exemplify the healthy active outdoor lifestyle and inspire their peers to get active outdoors
• Contributors to their outdoor community

If selected, Mountain Idols will be recognized on stage and in the media and will receive a cash prize and a selection of prizes from project sponsors.

Mountain Idols will be selected by a committee of individuals representing the various mountain sports in the geographic area between Lake Louise and Exshaw. Finalists will be contacted by mid-October and awardees will be announced at the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival’s Radical Reels.

Submit a nomination

Past Winners and Finalists

2009 — Winner

Rosanna Crawford

Canmore, biathlete, 21 years old

• Elite level biathlete who excels in her sport of biathlon, a combination of cross country skiing and rifle marksmanship
• Also runs, does yoga, hikes, climbs and mountain bikes
• Volunteer ambassador with Fast and Female, Rosanna helps to lead sessions for girls age 9 - 19 to encourage participation in cross country skiing
• Generous with her time and enthusiastically shares her love of skiing to help promote a healthy lifestyle
• Member of the Canadian Senior National Biathlon Team
• Consistently top 15 finisher in the IBU Cup Series
• Seventh, European Biathlon Championships 2008/09
• First and second place finishes in 2008/09 Canadian Biathlon Nationals

2009 — Finalists

Allison Vest

Canmore, climber, 14 years old

• She volunteers at the her local climbing gym
• Also enjoys fishing, hiking, mountain biking while maintaining excellent academic standing, playing saxophone in jazz band, and performing in local theatre group
• First place at the 2008 Big Sky Regional Sport Climbing Championship in Bozeman, Montana
• First place at the 2008 USA Sport Climbing Divisional Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Second place at the 2008 US National Bouldering Championships in Boulder, Colorado
• Successfully climbed the 12ppitch traditional route up the 500-metre face of Ha Ling

Noah Maisonet

Banff, freestyle skier, 16 years old

• Truly enjoys many outdoor pursuits, and also excels at team sports
• Rocky Mountain Freeriders Skier of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009
• Canadian Open Junior Competition winner at Red Mountain in Rossland and placed first in Fernie and Lake Louise
• All-star volleyball player at Banff Community High School
• Good academic standing
• Completely humble, quiet, polite, and unassuming making him well-liked and admired by his peers
• Encourages and inspires his peers to participate in outdoor activities

2008 — Winner

Eric Sethna

Eric, 16, was ranked first in difficulty and second in speed in the North American Continental Climbing Championships in Denver and placed 8th in the 2007 Youth World Championships. Eric helps with the climbing program at Banff Community High School and volunteers at summer climbing camps at the Vsion climbing gym in Canmore. A well-rounded mountain athlete, Eric is a very competent alpine skier, finished first in his age group in the 2007 Melissa’s run, and has his black belt in hapkido.

2008 — Finalists

Rosanna Crawford

Rosanna, 20, is a Junior National Biathlete with consistent top 15 finishes in the Europa Cup Series. Rosanna placed 16th in the World Juniors and first and second at the Nationals. She leads, mentors and inspires through participation in Fast & Female, Girls with Guns, and as an energetic and kind teammate, friend, and ski club member.
 

Bryce Shaw

Bryce, 18, participates in numerous outdoor activities, from mountaineering and climbing to mountain biking and biathlon. Bryce paddles class five whitewater and has explored numerous remote rivers in Northern B.C. and the United States. For his age, Bryce is on the cutting edge of creeking and river running. He is a Junior National Kayak Team member, with third place in Junior National Whitewater Slalom and third overall at the 2007 Kananaskis Whitewater Festival. Bryce is also an effective leader and ambassador in his sport through his dynamic personality, willingness to help others and commitment to perfection while always having fun.

2007 — Winner

Zak McGurk

Zak, 18, an outstanding athlete in indoor and outdoor climbing, who has also contributed to the local climbing community as a coach and mentor. Zak has a great ability to motivate others with his approach and positive attitude.
 

2007 — Finalists

Sarah Murphy

Sarah, 19, a top athlete in biathlon, has won medals and top-15 finishes at national and international events. Selected for the 2007 - 2008 Junior National Team, she exemplifies discipline in training and through her involvement in air cadets. Among Sarah’s goals: competing in the 2010 Olympics and climbing Mount Assiniboine.
 

Eric Sethna

Eric, 15, was ranked first in difficulty and second in speed in the North American Continental Climbing Championships in Denver. Eric helps with the climbing program at Banff Community High School and volunteers at summer climbing camps at the Vsion climbing gym in Canmore. A well-rounded mountain athlete, Eric is a very competent alpine skier, finishing first in his age group in the 2007 Melissa’s run, and has his black belt in hapkido.

Kayla Eykelboom

Kayla, 12, is a well-rounded outdoor athlete who participates at a high level in backcountry skiing and climbing, and has trekked to Mount Everest base camp. She has a great appreciation for mountain culture and environment, and demonstrates tremendous potential at a young age.