The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON -- The Inland Northwest Series of the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) completed its final sanctioned competition at 49 Degrees North last Saturday and Sunday in Chewela.

Forty- three athletes competed in various age classes in slopestyle; the aerial stunts and tricks event known in USASA competitions on Saturday. Michael Thomas, Kennewick won the Breaker Boys (12-13) snowboarder age class, qualifying for Nationals. Ethen Whattam, from Richland placed fifth in Skier Men (13-15) age class. Ben Clark of Pullman finished ninth in the Skier Men (16-18) age class.

Fifty-five competitors rode through snow flurries, wind and welcome sunshine on Sunday during the boarder cross and ski cross events. Many competitors racked up points in their respective age classes and can expect to receive invitations to the National competition at Copper Mountain, Colo., April 2-13.

Sarah Koehler of Kennewick finished first in the Open Skier Women age class. Bryant Stephenson, Kennewick was third in the Open Skier Men's age class. Michael Keohler, Kennewick cruised to a first place finish in the Skier Men (19 & over) age class. Both Koehler's qualified for nationals in their respective age groups.

Hayden White, of Walla Walla, finished first in Skier Men (13-15), followed by Ethen Wattham, of Richland, who finished first in the age class this season and qualified for nationals. Snowboarders Michael Thomas and Seth Berry, both of Kennewick, finished first and third respectively in the Breaker Boys (12-13) age class.

Jaymin Morgan, Kennewick rode to third in the Junior Men (16-17) snowboarder age class. Alex Naylor, Dayton placed first in the Skier Men (16- 18) age class. Both boys have qualified to compete at Copper Mountain this April.

Paisley Flowers, 3, of Roslyn, has also qualifi ed for nationals with her first-place finishes this past weekend in the Ruggie Girls (7 and under) snowboarder age class in border cross and slopestyle events. It was truly a "Flowers" weekend; her father, Ben, also of Roslyn, placed third in Master Men (30-39) snowboarder. Her aunt, Megan Flowers, of Bothell, took the blue in the Skier Women (19 and over) and her uncle Chris Flowers, also of Bothell, placed first in the Senior men (23-29) snowboarder age class.

To complete the "family affair, Paisley's grandfather, Roy Flowers of Seattle, finished second in the Skier Men (19 and over) age class. At 59, this was Roy's first competitive ski cross experience.

Nick Morgan of Kennewick is the Inland Northwest Series Program Director.

For more information, visit the organization's offi cial website www.usasa.org.