SuperUnknown XVIII

SuperUnknown XVIII was staged in 2021 through a hybrid Level 1 format | Finals: Woodward Eldora, Colorado from April 12 to 17 | Winners: Skye Clarke and Oscar Weary | Format: amateur freeski video entries followed by a rider voted live finals week

Woodward Eldora Carries the Pandemic Edition

SuperUnknown XVIII became the 2021 answer to an interrupted freestyle-ski calendar. Level 1 had paused SuperUnknown XVII in 2020, then folded that unfinished finalist group into the next edition. The official archive later listed the season as SuperUnknown XVII plus I, but the 2021 entry process, rule set and finalist selections were built around SuperUnknown XVIII. Finals ran at Woodward Eldora in Colorado from April 12 to 17, with a North American field shaped by travel restrictions and Covid precautions.

Ninety Second Edits Decide the Finalist Gate

The entry format stayed close to SuperUnknown tradition. Amateur skiers aged 12 and older submitted a 90 second video edit showing skill, style, tricks and personality. Level 1 stated that the judging emphasized overall impression, style, technical ability and personality, without using résumés or contest results as the main filter. The 2021 deadline was March 22 at 11:59 pm MST, after which semi finalist and finalist edits were released online before the live finals group met in Colorado.

Skye Clarke and Oscar Weary Win the Rider Vote

The two primary titles went to Skye Clarke in the women’s field and Oscar Weary in the men’s field. The final decision was rider voted, keeping the result close to the people who had spent the week skiing together. Each overall winner received 5000 USD to film, plus an Ikon Pass for the 2021 22 season and Saga Outerwear support. That prize structure reflected the contest’s film based identity: SuperUnknown has always mattered because it can move an amateur skier from an edit submission into industry visibility.

Official Winners - SuperUnknown XVIII 2021
Women: Skye Clarke (CAN)
Men: Oscar Weary (USA)

Fog Snowfall and the Modified Pipe Session

Woodward Eldora gave the finalists five days of filming rather than a standard podium heat. The week opened with sunshine, then shifted into snowfall, fog and cold spring weather. A modified pipe feature and a 60 foot jump became early focal points. Seamus Flanagan stood out on the jump with a seven and lead mute, while Oscar Weary’s week built around creative park skiing and controlled style rather than only spin count. Skye Clarke landed a first try under flip during the hip session, one of the clearest progression moments from the women’s field.

Women Share the Finals Lineup in Larger Numbers

The 2021 edition mattered because multiple women were present in the finals environment. The lineup included Marin Hamill, Bella Bacon, Mckenna Brown, Skye Clarke and Cat Agnew, who joined after Rell Harwood had to withdraw. Level 1 had already named Rosina Friedel as the first female finalist in 2018 and Giorgia Bertoncini as a 2019 winner, but SuperUnknown XVIII placed a deeper women’s group inside the filming week itself. Clarke’s win therefore sat inside a broader shift in how the event presented women’s freeski progression.

Awards Beyond the Main Titles

Level 1 also introduced extra awards around the finals week. Danya Maynak received a Best Slam mention after repeatedly getting back up from heavy crashes. Chris Bechtold received the XXXXXX L award for his oversized Champion windbreaker, Luke O’Brien was named Stairmaster for his hiking effort, and Cat Agnew received the 11th Hour award for making a last minute trip to Colorado. Those awards captured the tone of SuperUnknown XVIII: less a fixed score sheet, more a week of skiing, filming, voting and group recognition built around the next generation of freeskiers.