Meryeta O'Dine just missed a climb to the medal podium but found her Colorado Rocky Mountain high.
The 17-year-old took on a veteran-stacked international field Friday at a NorAm event at Cooper Mountain in Colorado and finished fifth as the top junior-aged competitor.
O'Dine recovered from a crash in Thursday's time trial and narrowly missed making the cut into the top-four final Friday.
Other results were not available.
O'Dine, part of Team B.C. for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, will travel today to Big White near Kelowna for NorAm races Wednesday and Thursday, followed by provincial snowboard cross events Friday and Saturday. She will miss the CWG opening ceremonies but should be back in Prince George in plenty of time to begin training on her home hill at Tabor Mountain.
O'Dine is scheduled to compete in the Games snowboard cross event on Saturday, Feb. 28.
