Making Of A Champion
Tavo takes flight on his championship run at the 2020 Junior Freeride World Championships in Kappl, Austria. pc @tavo.sadeg
The Little Big Air contest may have been Tavo’s start in competition, but it surely wasn’t his last. He still had plenty of riding and developing to do. And that’s exactly what did practicing and competing with Team Palisades Tahoe on a regular basis. Once he reached high school, Tavo again stepped up into a new age bracket. This time it was the highly competitive 15 to 18-year-old group with much stronger and more experienced riders.
This new level of competition required a significant commitment by Tavo and his family. Fortunately, he was part of ‘big ski community’ that attended North Tahoe High School. While there Tavo pursued the ski academy educational track which offered online classes and the flexibility to ride three afternoons a week. This dedicated practice schedule combined with his weekend work at Alpine/Palisades gave Tavo the time he needed to really work on his freeride skills.
In his first year competing against these older riders Tavo put together a magical season. He earned a pair of 3rd place finishes with some outstanding riding at both the Kirkwood and Squaw/Alpine IFSA Junior Freeride Qualifying events. He then went on to win the IFSA North American Championships, earning him an invite to the 2020 Junior Freeride World Championships in Kappl, Austria.
Highlights from Tavo’s win at the 2018 North American Junior Freeride Championships, Snowbird, UT. pc @tavo.sadeg
Missed Opportunities
Culminating a brilliant season of riding, and following the lead of other Team Palisades Tahoe snowboarders who came before him, Tavo took his own shot at the world championship. On a course with extremely difficult conditions (having snow more than four feet in a week’s time and causing the event to moved at the last minute) Tavo laid down an outstanding run. Unfortunately his riding was marred only by a 360 landing which created such an explosion it left the judges confused as to whether he had fallen (when he had not) earning him a respectable, but disappointing 5th place. Tavo knew he was close and he wanted another chance. However, it would take two more years before that opportunity would come again.
Big smiles to share as Tavo Sadeg wins the 2018 North American Junior Freeride Championships at Snowbird, UT (and gets some nice swag in the process). pc @tavo.sadeg
As much as Tavo loves to ride and compete, snowboarding isn’t his only passion. When it comes to the off season or just enjoying time off the hill Tavo has a number of different hobbies. Stay tuned tomorrow to find out what those might be!
We’d like to thank Tavo’s sponsors for their incredible support on this journey. We could not do it without your help!
Tavo celebrating with coaches after a fantastic run at the 2019 North American Junior Freeride Championships, Kicking Horse Resort, BC. pc @tavo.sadeg