Big White Freeskier Lewis Brunt on Road to Pro Career
Brunt, whose been skiing at the age of three, is well on his way to becoming a professional freeskier – a feat he attributes largely to his upbringing at Big White Ski Resort and time at the Big White Community School.
“You knew everyone; everyone was your friend,” he says. “And it was that same group of friends you’d go out skiing with pretty much every day whether it was our home built park we made at school, or the three day weekends. Growing up there is probably the reason I want to become a competitive skier.”
Son of Jude Brunt, co-owner of Globe Cafe & Tapas Bar and The Blarney Stone Irish Tavern, Lewis Brunt initially competed in ski racing, but when an old coach introduced him to free ride, “I was in love,” he says. “I knew this was where I was meant to be.”
The teen has already competed for Canada in the International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association (IFSA) North American Championships three times, and recently took home gold at the second annual ”Freeski Biggie” competition here at Big White. Brunt says he’s on track to qualify for the Freeride Junior World Championships in 2020.
Brunt trains with Red Academy at Red Mountain, and spends his winter season at school, or travelling to either Red Mountain or Big White to get his freeskiing in. And even after travelling all over North America for competitions, he says his favourite thing is still ripping The Cliff with his friends.
Brunt attended the Big White School from Grades 3 to 9, and is now in his final year at Rutland Secondary School in Kelowna with aspirations to one day pursue a career in engineering – that is, if his pro freeskiing career doesn’t pan out.
In the meantime, he’s working on putting together a few short ski films, hopeful he can eventually break into that side of the industry. A few years ago, he participated in Big White’s film, “The Faces Behind the Lines.”
Follow along with Lewis Brunt’s freeskiing career and ski filming aspirations on Facebook and Instagram @lewisbruntfreeskier.