From Kazui

I have had a busy week so far, having 3 races in 4 days. My first SG race this season was last Friday. I came into the SG event feeling very nervous for two reasons, it was only my second day on the skis this season, and it was my first race back from my injury I had in the state SG last year. I came in 2nd and I was pretty excited about that because SG being my least favorite event, I didn't have a lot of confidence in doing that well.

I had a slalom race 2 days after that at Bromley mountain. The hill was fairly flat and turny and it was a really nice hill for my first SL race back. Even though my ankle was sore, I finished 1st that day and gained even more confidence on my tech events. The next day I had the State SG at Okemo mountain. Very ironically, I went down in the training run and got taken down in a sled once again, the third time this season. WOOHOOO! Two years straight I have unsuccessfuly finished a State SG run. It turns out I had sprained my same ankle, but on different sides. It was red and swollen, but I got back on snow in less than two days.

On Friday I had a SL race at mysterious Willard Mountain. From stories that I hear, lots of crazy stuff goes on at this mountain. This time it was everything a racer could ask for; ruts, ruts, ruts. It had been raining the last couple of days and on the forecast it was suppose to dump rain. But as mysterious as it is, the day turned out to be 60 degrees, clear blue skies. I ran 158th out of 160. And the last two people weren't here so if i'm doing my math correctly, I was selected to go last. I waited about an hour after the boys start due to the many DNF's and DSQ's. By the time I went, the trail was qualified more to be considered a mogul field rather that a race course. I tried to throw a clean run down but no, that didn't happen, actually the exact opposite happened. As embarrassing as this sounds, I fell on the 2nd gate of the course. Yeah you heard... the 2nd gate also being a hairpin.I had to hike myself up while about 2 dozen people watch me. I went further down and then straddled, I would have usually hiked but the hike before just killed me. So then again I started DFL second run, and yes this time the ruts were worse. I started and made it through the first gate and hairpin, but as lucky as I am I straddle the next gate. So I hike and make my way up the hill, the exact same spot where I fell before. That day was a mess and I hope I never have to go through an experience like that ever again.

That race was the last for the qualifiers, so they announced the State team there. I had all first place results but in the tie breaker, my fellow teammate beat me out. I ended up 2nd overall. The Tech State events are next week at Okemo and I hope I make my way into JO's! Peace out.

.)) Kazui Kusumi

Duct Tape Saves the Day!

Last weekend I had a USCSA race in Winter Park on the same hill as my tech qualifiers will be held on. I have never had a very good race there before so I was ready to put an end to that.

I woke up on Saturday ready for the two run GS race. When I opened the curtains of my hotel room I saw 6-9 in of new snow. When we got up there the course was covered in snow, and it was cold. My first run of GS was really snowy and powdery. The visibility was terrible I couldn’t differ the horizon from the sky. All I could see were gates no snow or terrain. Out of the gate I could tell it wasn’t going to be a good run. As the pitch got steeper I got later. Then on the 10th gate I hit either a rut or a pile of powder, witch launcher me out of my skis and through the panel. So that day was over.

But the next day was slalom. I had been skiing slalom really well in training, so I was pumped. I was starting at 18 which is a good start from the field of 112 people. Once again it snowed a lot. So the start was delayed and I was able to get extra inspections.

My first run was off to a bad start, a course worker was in the course at the third gate. That threw me off my line. Then at the bottom I pole planted on top of my outside ski and in turn I was forced way low and I scrubbed all my speed right before the finish line. I was in 7th over all and 4th for j3s. I was still not too far out and I had a chance if I could pull off a good run. At the start of the second run I realized that the straps of my shin guard had broken off. So the guy ahead of me was in the start and I was trying to find duct tape. Right as he left I found some tape, so I was a bit flustered and distracted but I was ready.

Unfortunately I straddled one of the last gates. So I was out both races. An unsuccessful weekend at Winter Park.

Back at Aspen I had one day of school when Tuesday was a snow day! It was the first snow day in 3 years. So I got together with 4 of my friends so we could hit the slopes for an incredible powder day. It was a great day. The snow was really deep and it just kept dumping on us. By far the best powder day of the year. Every run we took we found some untracked snow. The highlight of the day was near the end when one of my friends and I started to do back flips, it was really fun.

Then today on Thursday the women’s NorAm cup came to Aspen Colorado for the second time this year. This time it is speed. And I was lucky enough to fore run the super combined. In the Super-G part we got to go over Aztec an incredibly steep pitch on the downhill course. The women weren’t allowed to even run over it till a few years ago. The pitch goes from about 5 degrees to 40 degrees in 20 feet. It is very intense. I was fore runner A so I got to go down first. It was the scariest run of my life, and the most fun so far. It was super steep and fast.

It was a great opportunity and was super fun (beats school). I was glad to be across the finish line, safe and not broken. In the after noon was the slalom portion of the day I was exited after having a good Super-G. After inspection could tell the course was my type, long and difficult. So I was ready to rock it. When I came down I could tell I put a good run down, one little bobble but it was nothing big. I hiked up to the timing hut to get my time and laid down a 47.77, I thought it was pretty good. I watched all the best people go (some of them are on the US and Canadian C teams.) To my surprise the fastest time was a 48.38, 6 tenths behind me, and the next after that was a 49.38. so I won a slalom run of a NorAm.

.)) Andrew Hancock

Barounos' Blog

Following the holiday season the Lowell Whiteman School in Steamboat Springs, CO has been on it's skier schedule. It is really helpful for us student athletes that our teachers are ok with us leaving school early every day to go skiing. They also are very flexible with homework and makeup assignment.

Also, on the skiing side, things are looking great as well. I recently qualified as an automatic entry to J2 Nationals, which I am very excited for!! It begins on March 4th, starting with men's GS and goes through March 11th (I'm not sure what the order of events are).

I would be training hard and preparing for Nationals, but in Steamboat there has been massive amounts of snow. We received over 40 inches of fresh powder in four days! It was also frighteningly cold for about a week long period. But anyway, thank you SRD for all the support this season, and for helping me achieve my goal of making Nationals. I hope everyone there likes my cool SRD speed suit.

.)) Alex Barounos