“Just fall backwards,” Randy Timmins instructs the young skier, who looks back at her coach like he’s lost his mind. “Keep your body straight and fall,” he continues. It’s not every ski coach that would be actively encouraging his charges to fall down on command, but for Timmins and the Jasper Freeride Team, learning how to flop, twist and flip is a crucial part of training.

Timmins is running a chaotic practice far from the ski hill this Saturday evening, instead holding court in a backyard on Miette Avenue as the team members use a trampoline to practice grabs, spreads and, for some, flips. The trampoline sessions provide the young athletes a chance to become more comfortable in the air and practice higher-risk moves. After all, the mesh is a lot more forgiving than hard-packed snow.

For four of the freeriders, a chance to show off their tricks in front of a local audience will come later this month, when they compete in the Alberta Winter Games freestyle events at Marmot Basin.

Daniel Quackenbush and Ben Waxer, both 13 years old, Trevor Quarrington-Cogswell, 14, and 12-year-old Imogen Jenkins will represent their team on February 24 and 26.

Timmins was pleased that the four made the cut at a qualification event in January.

“We were hoping they would qualify,” he said. “They were doing well, but they still had to make it.”

There will be two events in the freestyle category, a big air competition and a mogul race on Show Off, the run that follows the triple chair. The big air event could see competitors doing some serious tricks, but Timmins believes that most of the young skiers will stick to more fundamental manoeuvres.

“There might be some people flipping, but there will be a lot of uprights or spreads,” he said.

As the energetic skiers quibble over who’s up next on the tramp, Timmins tries to ensure that the younger, less experienced team members get the chance to get up and try things out. They might only be comfortable working on spreads or falling backwards, but it’s all part of a process that intends to leave them with the confidence and ability to be better skiers.

Besides the time on dry land, the freeriders spend the weekend on the hill. The team usually has its own, private, air site to take advantage of, located just uphill from the Caribou day lodge, but snow conditions this year have prevented the jumps from being built and used. Timmins hopes that the site will be in good shape by the time the Games start.

While good results would be nice, the coach is focusing on the experience the young team members will be getting through competing.

“This is a great opportunity for them to be part of a games experience,” Timmins said. “It’s a chance to represent their zone and their town. It’s really an honour for them.”

Before the Games, the club is off to Red Deer and Castle Mountain in Southern Alberta for two competitions. They also have two more events to look forward to in March, including the Alberta Championships that will be held at Marmot.