July 22, 2013- September 23, 2013 Publications

OUT OF THE GATE

A rendering shows what the Human Performance Center will look like upon completion in Spring 2014.

FLEXING THEIR MUSCLES Ski and Snowboard Club Vail begins construction on Human Performance Center, secures funds for Golden Peak expansion BY GEOFF MINTZ When it comes to strength and conditioning for competitive skiers and snowboarders, there hasn’t been enough study on developing athletes age 16 and younger.

That’s something that John Cole, the director of human performance at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV), is hoping to change in the near future.

In August, SSCV and its academic partner, Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy (VSSA), broke ground on the Human Performance Center adjacent to the school building in Minturn, Colo., just outside Vail.

The 8,500-square-foot facility will represent the latest and greatest in strength and fitness training for club-level athletes.

But that’s not to say it’s going to be all bells and whistles with no nuts and bolts.

“I hesitate to use the term ‘state of the art,’” said Cole. “At the end of the day, I’m very much a traditionalist as far as how we performance train our athletes. … That being said, what we have recognized is there are certain trends in the industry that definitely assist and mirror our type of programming.”

One of those trends, which will be a distinctive feature of SSCV’s fitness center, comes courtesy of NASA — or, more accurately, the California-based company Kaiser Pneumatics, which years ago was contracted by NASA to develop lightweight strength training equipment that could be transported into space. In deThe interior of veloping air-driven resistance, compared to weight-driven SSCV’s Human resistance, engineers discovered the technology was not Performance Center. only incredibly lightweight, but also allows the athlete to train with a full range of motion with very little shockload to the joints.

“A lot of the things that we’re doing on the floor are going to incorporate pneumatics,” said Cole. “They take up very little space, they’re easy to operate, they use very little power … and they’re way safer.”

In addition to the pneumatics, the facility will feature other unconventional pieces of equipment, such as force plates SkiRacing.com SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 | 5

OUT OF THE GATE

Ski and Snowboard Club Vail personnel break ground on the Human Performance Center in Minturn, Colo. Standing center are Human Performance Director John Cole and Executive Director Aldo Radamus.

SR MARKETPLACE

and whole-body vibration plates. There will also be more conventional items, such as rowing machines, dumbbell racks and treadmills.

It’s all designed to tie into the area of the Human Performance Center in which Cole is most looking forward to working: the lab.

“When we look at the existing facilities out there right now, including the Center of Excellence, (they are) working with a slightly older population,” said Cole.

“They have a lot of very useable data on their age range of male and females athletes, roughly 16-andup. What doesn’t exist in the snowsports world is more useable data on the younger age range category, so we can try to zero-in on our training modality.”

The lab will not only give SSCV an opportunity to do a little more research; it’s also rigged for further development and future build-outs, which might include motion captures, a skating treadmill or something that hasn’t yet been invented.

Serious upgrade The Human Performance Center, which is scheduled for completion this spring, will be a sizeable upgrade from the club’s current gym, a 1,000-square-foot room at the base of Golden Peak in Vail. While SSCV has done its best to maximize and optimize the space, it

has undoubtedly limited the athletes in terms of frequency, volume and flexibility in which they are able to work out.

The facility was made possible by a unique partnership with the Town of Minturn, which footed half of the $2 million bill and whose citizens will enjoy membership to the gym, not unlike a health club.

“It’s a really great partnership to bring two entities — the town government and the nonprofit, the club — together to build something that’s better than what either one of us could have done otherwise,” said SSCV Executive Director Aldo Radamus.

Serving grades 5 to 12 and referred to as a “school of choice,” VSSA is public within the Eagle County system, which means the education component is free.

But there are a few prerequisites — namely, you have to be a member of a full-time ski or snowboard program at SSCV. Currently serving roughly 160 students, the academy has experienced explosive growth in the last five years.

The Human Performance Center is just part of several ongoing capital improvements. Next on the agenda, within the next 12 to 18 months, is construction of a 15,000-sqaure-foot residence hall at the Minturn campus to better accommodate athletes and coaches from out of town, out of state, perhaps out of country.

NOWHERE LEFT TO GO BUT UP SSCV is also hoping to expand the club’s ski and snowboard arena to the top of Golden Peak — already a world-leading early-season technical hill — to accommodate downhill and super G, as well as a NorAm-caliber mogul course.

In September, the club officially secured funds to make this longtime dream a reality. The project is now, of course, subject to what will surely be a thorough approval process, during which advocates previously fell short in a 2009 attempt when the Forest Service rejected the plan over hydrological concerns.

“There were legitimate reasons why the (original) proposal was denied,” said Aldo Radamus in a 2012 interview. “But that work is under way ... That was a cloud with a silver lining because ... it allowed us to take the momentum that had been started with that concept and refocus it on modernizing and improving the snowmaking system.”

The on-hill improvements would, in theory, coincide with the leveling and redevelopment of SSCV’s clubhouse, which, if it hangs around much longer, could be considered a historical building. Funded by the sale of residential real estate on the top floor of the proposed structure, the new clubhouse would be an improvement from 7,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet.

To place a Ski Racing display ad or line classified ad, contact Susan Theis at 414-630-5604 or e-mail stheis@skiracing.com

SkiRacing.com SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 | 6

BACKSHOP

What About New Skis?

Prep School HOW TO GET LAST YEAR’S SKIS READY FOR THE SEASON By Brian Eggleton

Prepping It’s important a pre-season ski prep to include sidewall and edge work before getting on snow. This helps to dial in the edges per the athletes’ specs, to make the skis feel right on the snow and to make daily work done on the skis later in the season that much easier.

It also makes the skis look pretty.

Grinding Race skis almost always come with a super high quality grind from the factory. Manufacturers use very high quality stone grinders as part of the finish process on race skis before sending them out to dealers and athletes. Most often, you can ski on the existing grind during the early season prep period in October and November before flattening it before the race season begins in December.

Many skis come out of the factory mold not 100 percent true, and skiing them in to break in the flex pattern and construction can make that first new grind more accurate.

It’s still a good idea to inspect the bases out of the box to ensure they are indeed flat enough for several weeks of skiing. Local shops can help. Breaking in skis also goes well with maximizing base material during the early season; typically, skis need a fresh grind (and maybe some P-tex after the fall), so waiting until early December to get new skis ground can be a good solution.

Brian Eggleton is the Equipment Manager at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail.

SkiRacing.com SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 | 63

Meet the high school elite of Eagle CountySneak Peak Thursday, September 19-September 25, 2013

The preps report Posted on 9/18/2013

Thoughts on competition, superstition and all things sports from Eagle County’s most promising high school athletes Caption: Left to right: Hunter Bailey (moguls), Nathan Maddox (cross country), Celia Smith (volleyball), Joe Felix (football), Val Constein (cross country), Cal DeLine (Nordic). Not picture: Roberto Diaz (soccer) and Roxy Trotter (volleyball). Anthony Thornton photo.

Editor's note: This an extended version of the article printed in the Sept. 19, 2013 edition of SneakPEAK.

By Phil Lindeman and John O’Neill

Across the United States, few places see teenage athletes drop an All-American team sport like basketball for the off-kilter world of alpine ski racing, and even fewer see those same skiers go on to compete at the Winter Olympics.

Eagle County is one of the few.

Although the four area high schools are relatively small – Battle Mountain High School and Eagle Valley High School are the largest by far, yet teams from both still compete at the 4A level – they’ve cultivated remarkable young talent. From slalom phenom Mikaela Shiffrin to the 2012 state champion boy’s soccer team at BMHS, the community has produced a nearly disproportionate number of all-stars.

But student athletes aren’t just medal-winning machines. Along with training almost daily, they balance AP classes and first dates with lengthy bus rides and, on occasion, international travel.

Living in the middle of the Rockies has its time-consuming downsides, but athletes work hard and play hard – the two just happen to look similar in a mountain community.

With fall sports season already in full swing, SneakPEAK met with a handful of the county’s high school elite to chat about the many layers of competition on the court, field and snow.

Roxy Trotter, 17 Vitals: The Eagle Valley High School senior has competed in volleyball and track all four years.

She’s currently being scouted by several Division I universities for track, but continues to shine as middle blocker and team captain for the Devils.

What’s your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?

For this year, just watching our team come together as a whole. We’ve come together really well, and even though we’ve played together for a while, we never quite connected before. Now, we’re finally starting to connect – we have eight seniors, so it’s nice to see our hard work pay off.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

I enjoy doing well individually and doing something for the team. When you hit the ball and get it crushed, everyone is excited for you.

Who do you look up to, either in the sports world or beyond?

Let me think about this…I definitely look up to my track coach, Jeff Shroll with the town of Gypsum. He’s just helped me a lot as a mentor. It doesn’t matter if it’s track or volleyball – he’s always been someone I could go to if I needed anything.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

As a team, for the last two years we’ve done a cheer called, “Do it, do it.” We get in a circle and call out everyone’s name, just to get everyone pumped. I’m really not a very superstitious person. If anything, I just like to take 10 minutes or so for myself to get relaxed and focus my mind.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

I try to just focus on my job. I believe in everyone else out on the court, so if I take the time to just collect myself and do the best, I know things will fall into place.

Do you think you’ll lead the team to playoffs this year, and what will that be like?

I think we can go to playoffs this year. We went once when I was a sophomore, but I floated up from JV and was just on the bench. I’d love to have the chance to play.

Why do you play volleyball?

I really like the fact that I can play with a ton of my friends. There’s a big social aspect to it, but I also love being out there on the court. The excitement of having a good hit and winning a point is a lot of fun. Track can be a very serious sport for me, so volleyball gives me time to take my mind off that. I do volleyball for the fun, but I love competing. I’m just a competitive person.

Does being a competitive person backfire off the court?

I don’t think so. I have a strong personality, but I like to think it comes across as positive and uplifting. Sometimes with track I feel like I overemphasize winning, but at the same time, I don’t think it really gets me in trouble. It’s more of a good thing than a bad thing for me.

If you weren’t playing volleyball, what would you do with your free time?

If I never picked up volleyball, I definitely think I’d do cross country. Track is such a huge part of my life, so that would just make sense. If I weren’t doing any sports, I’d probably find a job.

But I’m glad I picked it up.

Talk about the most memorable match of your high school career. Why does it stand out?

It was actually a couple of weeks ago. It was the first game of my senior year against Montrose, and it’s so refreshing to know our team wants to go somewhere and actually compete. We can stand up to other teams in the league and maybe even beyond, and even though we lost, it was really cool to see us all come together like that.

What advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into volleyball?

Definitely just work hard and it will take you somewhere. I know my team has been working hard and starting to work smoothly, and we play it because we love it. You can’t just play this sport because you have nothing else to do.

Is it difficult to balance your sport with being a student?

Last year I definitely had that problem. Everyone says that junior year is the hardest grade of your high school career, between sports and school, and I was taking a bunch of AP classes.

Even now as a senior I’m up late, but I was doing that all the time last year, especially during volleyball season. You might miss half a day of school to go to Delta or Montrose. Just balancing that can be very hard. You have to realize where your priorities are – on the weekend you might not be able to hang out with friends because you have to study. This year I want to put my academics first. Even though I did well last year, I feel like I will actually get more out of it.

Where do you hope your sport takes you?

I’m looking at several schools right now, but CSU (Colorado State University) is in my top two.

I’m also really interested in University of Portland – I’m flying out there soon, and they’re paying for my ticket and everything. If CSU gave me a better deal than University of Portland, I’d go there, just because I really love Colorado and my sister goes there. But I’m really excited all these coaches have called me – I never thought I’d go that far. I always dreamed of it, but I never really thought it was going to happen. In my high school career, I’ve seen a lot of really good athletes not take that into college. I never thought I’d be able to take it all the way to a D-I school.

Cal DeLine, 17 Vitals: DeLine transferred to Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy from Vail Mountain School halfway through his sophomore year. Now a senior, the former freestyle skier and avid trail runner has become a promising young Nordic prospect, with interest in competing for Dartmouth, University of Colorado or Denver University.

Why’d you make the switch from freestyle to Nordic?

I was pressured a bit from my parents to switch over, but I put up some good results in running races and the coach almost drafted me. I do still get out and do freeski stuff whenever I can.

What’s your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?

On paper, my greatest accomplishment is either getting third in the individual class 10K at (United States Ski and Snowboard Association) Junior Nationals or being on the winning relay team the past two years there. Personally, I think the best I raced was at the Super Tour Finals in Truckee, Calif. As a J1, I won the entire junior category.

What do you find most satisfying about your Nordic?

I like traveling to compete. It’s a lot of work throughout summer and fall – last year I missed three months of school to compete, but that’s what makes the hard work worth it, when you’re skiing in Norway one week or running in Italy the next.

Who do you look up to, either in the sports world or beyond?

When I need inspiration, I look up to someone like Sylvan Ellefson, the Nordic skier from Vail.

He’s really led me through my entire Nordic career, so when I need advice or help, he’s always there.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

No, I actually don’t. I do enjoy waking up and having it raining – it keeps me from doing my normal routine and makes it exciting. No real rituals have come out of that though.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

I get nervous. I’ll shake at the dinner table the night before and not talk much, but when it comes to the day of, it’s a matter of how badly I want to win. When I think of that, it all goes away. You don’t have to do anything extra or do anything out of the ordinary. That’s why you train. My biggest problem is just the lead-up to a race – I go through the course in my head and really look at who I’m competing against. At the starting block, that falls away and I know what to do.

If you hadn’t come across Nordic, what would you do with your free time?

I’d definitely still be playing soccer and doing more big mountain skiing. That’s what I quit to do Nordic, and I really wish I could keep doing that somehow. Soccer especially, just because I played it my first year I was doing Nordic, but it just came to be too much. You couldn’t play soccer all fall and expect to have a good winter. I used to play with all the Battle Mountain kids and they just won state (for 4A soccer), so that was tough.

What advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into the Nordic scene?

Be patient. When you first start, it’s very draining. Once winter comes around and you get to travel and leave school for a bit, it gets fun. You just have to be patient and have some fun.

That’s all it takes.

Is it difficult to balance your sport with being a student?

Yeah, it’s definitely tough. Thank god for VSSA, because they really help with the travel. The way their classes are set up online is great, and it makes travelling bearable. When winter comes and you want to hang out or ski with your friends, you have to head to Durango for races. It can be hard, but once you have a good group of other skiers, you end up traveling with your friends anyway.

Where do you hope Nordic takes you?

I’m going to go to college and ski in college. I hope to one day win an NCAA title. I’ve been talking with Dartmouth a bit, but CU and DU are on the list as well.

What’s the most significant thing a coach or teammate has said to you? It could be positive or negative.

There are two things, I think, and they kind of contradict each other. Eric Pepper, my coach, he’s a great guy and believes in us, but there have been a few times when he’s asked me what I’m doing and why I’m not doing as well as I could. It’s a reality check, because it makes you think, “Do I want to keep training and want to keep working?” That really pushes me to be better – I don’t want to give up that podium spot at nationals.

Talking with Sylvan, he’s gone through it all and had hard coaches and easy coaches. He tells me to remember it’s just a sport and I’m still in high school. I’ve thrown poles and thrown skis, but when I keep things in perspective, I can calm down.

What are you most afraid of?

Putting in time and effort and getting beat. There are so many kids out there I train with every day, so my biggest fear is to get beat by the people I know. On any given weekend I’ll get second or third, but I want to be that dominant skier. The fear of me never getting to that spot is what keeps me going.

Joe Felix, 18 Vitals: Now in his senior year, the 6-foot, 1-inch defensive lineman and captain for EVHS football dominates on the gridiron, posting upwards of seven tackles per game after reaching 220 pounds this season. He’ll spend the next few weeks talking with coaches and scouts from University of New Mexico.

What’s your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?

Last year we won a first-round playoff game and that was the first time we've done it since I’ve been on the team. I want to say it hasn’t happened in six years, so that was really cool. It was basically a snowstorm – we were playing down in Frederick and the snow was up to your ankles, but we still managed to pull it out.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

Getting to hit another person and not get in trouble for it (laughs). I used to play defensive end, but as a tackle, I like that you're the first person to get to the running back or the quarterback.

You always have the first opportunity to be in the play.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before a game?

Yeah, I actually have a lucky pair of gloves and lucky undershirt. That shirt is just something that I started wearing one game, and for some reason, I feel like I play better with it on. I've been

doing that for two seasons now.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

You just treat the game like any other game. I like to play every game like it's my last, and that's how I approach the entire sport.

If you weren’t playing football, what would you do with your free time?

Just weight lifting. I really enjoy the strength training part of the sport, and I've been doing that since before football even.

What advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into the game?

I just tell them we work hard all summer, so there’s no reason to not play our best every game.

It's basically asking them what they want out of their season – it's in all our hands, but if everyone wants it as bad, it'll work out.

Is it difficult to balance your sport with being a student?

Not really, because I feel like it all goes hand in hand. Teachers understand that I do better in school when I'm playing football. I actually focus better when I’m in the middle of a season.

Where do you hope your sport takes you?

I'm interested in playing for University of New Mexico. I haven't seen them yet, but that's all stuff I want to get done before next month. I have a lot of family in the area, so it would be a huge plus to go down there.

What’s the most significant thing a coach or teammate has said to you? It could be positive or negative.

Not to put myself down when things go wrong. I've been told that I can accomplish anything when I put my mind to it, and that's what helps me play like I'm better than the other guys on the field.

Why do you wear no. 79?

Coach said he gives that number to guys he thinks are tough. That's basically what he said – they're tough sons of guns. I've had that number since the start, so it’s been with me for a while.

What are you most afraid of?

I guess not being able to play the game again. I try to play as hard as I can, whenever I can.

Being done with the sport isn't something I like to think about.

Hunter Bailey, 17 Vitals: The senior freestyle skier attends Vail Mountain School and has trained with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail since he was in lower school. He went to Italy for last year’s FIS Junior World Ski Championships – his first invite ever – and although he placed outside the top 10, he’s poised to break into the World Cup circuit soon.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

I think it's a lot of fun. Slopestyle can be really cool – I did that for a little while – but I like that moguls has a skiing aspect to it. It’s not just a lot of jumping.

Who do you look up to, either in the sports world or beyond?

There are a lot of people in Vail who are great skiers, and being around that whole culture is cool. When Toby Dawson got a bronze in Torino (in 2006), that was really cool to see, and my old coach Mike Friedberg skied on the World Cup circuit.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

I mean, not really – nothing super good, anyway. Some people have crazy stuff they like to do, but I don't have much.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

I think the first time you go to a competition it's easy to get rid of the pressure. You just think that everyone else is just as nervous as you are, then step back and think, “This is skiing, this is supposed to be fun.”

Why did you end up choosing moguls over jumping?

When we were younger, you do a program (with SSCV) where you can do whatever you want.

They’ll take you to the park, then the moguls, then the alpine course. When you turn 12 or so, you have to pick a sport to really pursue. I always enjoyed moguls more and was just a bit better at it than everything else.

If you weren’t skiing, what would you do with your free time?

I played soccer, baseball, soccer, basketball and hockey before, but I had to stop all that when I started focusing on skiing. I don't really miss those sports – I could be doing them if I really wanted to, but I decided that I wanted to focus on skiing. It's not a decision I was forced to make.

Talk about the most memorable competition of your high school career. Why does it stand out?

It was definitely Italy. That was incredible, going to a foreign country and everything. It was completely new, and I'd never really skied against that many people from Europe except for maybe a few random European teams, but that’s it. They had the Russians, the French, the British – all those people you see at the World Cup. Those are the people I’ll go against as I keep moving up, so it was good experience.

What advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into freestyle?

Every faction of skiing comes with its own community, and this community is definitely funky and fun. It is more than a sport – you spend your entire winter with these people. It's an entire culture, and if you enjoy that, you'll really enjoy freestyle.

Is it difficult to balance your sport with being a student?

It can be a little stressful in the winter, but it's really not that bad. A lot of times you miss a class and have to make it up, but our teachers are supper good about it. In the end, it's really not that bad.

Where do you hope skiing takes you?

Like I said, I just want to keep doing it while I'm having fun. I don't want to say my ultimate goal is the World Cup or Olympics because a lot of kids say that and never make it. If I'm still having fun and that's where it takes me, that's what I want to do.

What are you most afraid of?

Geez (long pause). There's this whole discussion in mogul skiing about whether they'll allow doubles (inverted aerials) or not. Right now it's not allowed, but a lot of people want to let it happen. If they decide they want to allow doubles, they have to change the entire layout – the jumps will be bigger, the landings will be bigger, just everything will change. The sport changed so much when they allowed single flips, and even though it was a good thing at the time and needed to happen, there's so much that can be done without them. I don't like the thought of holding back on progression, but the consequences can be so much worse. Now you just blow a knee out – you could see people breaking their necks and dying. It wouldn't quite be the sport I grew up with.

Val Constein, 17 Vitals: Hand Constein a challenge and she’ll hand you back a blue ribbon. The BMHS senior has set records running on the track and the dirt as the Huskies’ no. 1 runner. Right now she is deep into her final cross country season for the Huskies and is the new 5K school record holder.

How long have you been a runner?

I started running cross country when I was a sophomore. I guess I got a later start. I did track my freshman year, though.

What’s your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?

I want to say it was my sophomore year when our 4 x 400 (meter) team made it to State. Every one of the girls ran a personal best. We didn’t qualify for the final but all of us ran to our absolute potential for that race. I mean, we all had the races of our lives. We call came together and it was awesome.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

Mostly I like that there is always room for improvement. You can always get faster, or get stronger. You can also run across a bunch of different events. I can decide to get faster at cross country, or the 800 or the mile. It’s a really more of a versatile sport than people think.

Who do you look up to, either in the sports world or beyond?

I look up to Mandy Ortiz (BMHS alum, class of 2013 and recent Junior World Mountain Running Champion). I know that is pretty close to home but it’s true. She is such an inspiration.

She had such an awful injury and then came back to win a world championship this year. She trains hard and never complains. She is just amazing like that.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

Not really … (pause) … well, I guess I always wear the same sports bra. That could be just because I only have one black sports bra to compete in. I always try to eat good food two hours before a race. But I’m not really a superstitious person.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

I’ve been told two things. When I was at a Montana State University distance camp, one of the coaches told me something that I think is really important. He told me that the perfect race mentality should be a mixture of excited and relaxed, at the same time. I was also told to think of something happy, like a happy memory right before the gun goes off. It makes the beginning of a race so much easier for me.

If you weren’t playing running, what would you do with your free time?

Probably physics (laughing). I don’t know, maybe I would be making arts and crafts or something. I can’t really picture myself doing something besides this. I’d probably still exercise for an hour and a half every day.

What advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into running?

I would tell all underclassmen to just run and work hard. I’d tell them to try not to walk. Just run and also to try to have fun. Our team is a lot of fun. I think it’s important for the younger ones to get hooked with the team and enjoy what they are doing. It’s not very hard to do on our team.

Where do you hope your sport takes you?

I am just taking it one step at a time right now. I hope it takes me to college, and I think it will. I hope I am good enough. One day maybe it would be super cool to go pro. But, I mean, that is a long ways a way. I want to make it through high school first.

What’s the most significant thing a coach or teammate has said to you? It could be positive or negative.

My sophomore year (head coach) Parish pulled me aside during the winter to talk to me. He said I had the potential to be one of the best athletes he has ever coached. But he said that I have to want it. After that conversation I really figured out that I could get good if I wanted to. Then I got it in my head that I wanted to be good. Since then I’ve put everything I’ve got into being the best that I can be in high school.

Have you suffered any adversity as an athlete?

My sophomore year in cross country we were switching over coaches. We used to be coached by Ken Long and then Parish came back to Battle Mountain. Their coaching styles are really different. Long was high quantity where Parish was a lot of high quality. I was also somewhat injured that season. I had some tendonitis in my hip flexor that knocked me out for part of the season. But I was able to come back and I’m grateful for those challenges.

What are you most afraid of?

I am most afraid that I could give up in a race. That is my biggest fear. So many times you are running along and you think “I could just slow down. I could fall in that ditch or I could roll my

ankle and stop.” That is my biggest fear. I’ve never stopped or slowed down. I know that the moment that could happen, it would be most terrifying because it is something you could do again and again. I think it is scary to give into those thoughts of giving up during a race or a practice.

Celia Smith, 17 Vitals: Vail Christian volleyball coach Cathy Alexander says her senior middle hitter, Celia Smith, could be one of the top five most competitive players she has ever coached – and Alexander has been coaching for 20 years. The senior middle hitter has been picking up kill after kill this season and doesn’t look to be slowing down.

How long have you played volleyball?

I started in 6th grade playing for The Vail Academy when they were on Route 6.

What’s your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?

All I ever wanted to do was play varsity volleyball, but during my first years in high school I transferred schools twice. I started at Vail Christian, and then I went to Battle Mountain and then back to Vail Christian. This means I had to deal with CHSAA rules twice. The rules meant that I had to sit out part of each season that I transferred. I had to work so hard to stay at a competitive level without being on varsity. Now that I am here, I can put all that effort to work. I’m proud of that.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

I would say it’s the moment where someone sets you up with the perfect set. You have the opportunity to just bounce it. The ball is floating right in front of you. Then there is that moment when everyone screams for you and you can come down and say, “Who passed that ball? That was a great pass!” It takes a team to make a play like that happen. Also after each point when our team comes together. That is what holds us together. That makes this sport special.

Who do you look up to, either in the sports world or beyond?

I look up to Matt Olson. He is a Two-Person Beach Champion. He is probably my role model.

On my team, though, I really look up to Kristen Currey. She has come such a long way and worked really hard to get where she is.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

I eat an apple before every game. For some reason it’s good luck for me. I do that in track, too.

Even my coaches know that if I eat an apple, I do better.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

Unless the game is determining the rest of my life, I don’t really feel pressure. To me, it’s fun.

Volleyball is a game and it’s fun. That’s why people play, right? Because it’s fun. If it’s an important game and we aren’t having fun, that is where something is going wrong.

If you weren’t playing volleyball, what would you do with your free time?

Oh my gosh, I’d have all the time in the world. I would have to find a new passion. Maybe I’d try playing music. Volleyball takes up pretty much all of my time outside of school. I can’t imagine that.

Is it difficult to balance your sport with being a student?

It’s challenging. You are always busy, but busy is good. I like being busy. There is school then practice then homework then sleep. It’s a healthy routine. I guess it’s not too bad.

Where do you hope your sport takes you?

I want to play beach volleyball in college. It was approved two years ago in the NCAA so it’s pretty new. If I can do that, it would be huge. We are looking into it right now and starting to talk with recruiters.

What’s the most significant thing a coach or teammate has said to you?

I was practicing once with some friends on the beach (court) in Vail. When I was younger I would swing really hard at the ball. It wasn’t very consistent. When I would get it right, it would be a great shot, but I would mess it up sometimes. Someone told me to be more careful. That brought me down a little bit. Then, a little while later we were out playing again and someone said to me, “Hey, keep swinging.” That meant a lot to me. It was like he was saying, “Keep going for it and you’ll get it.” It meant that I could keep reaching for the stars with each hit. It was encouraging.

What are you most afraid of?

Getting injured. That would ruin everything. Health is so important.

Nathan Maddox, 17 Vitals: The EVHS cross country captain admits he was constantly near the back of the pack until high school, but in four years, he’s become one of the team’s most reliable runners. The Devils nearly won league last year thanks to a strong finish from Maddox and two teammates, and they hope to return even stronger this season.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

When you compete, you see all the hard work you put into it over summer – just suffering in the heat – begin to pay off. In the end, I love to see those rewards. Running can be a great stress relief, so just knowing your good at something that’s also enjoyable is incredible.

Who do you look up to, either in the sports world or beyond?

That's a tough question. There are a lot of people out there – I’d probably just say my Grandma.

Honestly, she always put other before herself and went to massive lengths to help others. She wasn’t a runner, but as a captain, I've been able to put others before myself and be selfless.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

Meditation sometimes. I also like listening to music and I listen to everything – rap, rock, country, especially country.

How do you handle the pressures of competition?

I visualize myself running (the course) first and doing well. I think about how I'm going to attack it, just start by visualizing the course and then think of how I'm going to approach it and the other guys I’m up against.

Why do you run?

I first got hooked when my sister joined the cross country team. I didn't really want to do it at first – I was actually kind of afraid it. In middle school, I was always last in the mile run. I guess I just really took after it once I finished freshman year. After I did it for a year, I realized it was really fun.

As a captain, what advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into cross country?

Stay committed. Don't think that just because you missed one workout you'll go downhill, or that you’ll get better automatically. It takes time.

Is it difficult to balance cross country with being a student?

Yeah, definitely. You get done with practice at 6 p.m., go home and do homework for three hours, and even if someone wants to hang out you can’t because you have to sleep. On the weekends when I’m done with a meet, I tell myself I can relax and hang out with friends. There's no need to be a hermit.

Where do you hope running takes you?

I have aspirations of running in college. I don't know where I want to go or exactly what I want to do, but running is definitely part of it.

What’s the most significant thing a coach or teammate has said to you?

There as one cross country meet, at regionals last year, when Hunter Burnham (an EVHS senior at the time) said, “Every last step, every last breath, we’re all in this together. No one hurts more than anyone else.” That just stuck with me.

What are you most afraid of?

Making it to the end of the season and not being able to peak. Every year except for last year in track I've been able to do that – I got sick before the last meet, so that was just awful.

Roberto Diaz, 17 Vitals: Diaz could be the most talented soccer player on the pitch in Colorado. Despite balancing his time between games, practices, schoolwork and a part-time job, Diaz has risen to a dependably spectacular player as a midfielder for the Huskies.

How long have you been playing soccer?

Just six years. I use to play baseball before.

What’s your greatest accomplishment as an athlete?

Probably the State Championship last year. We worked very hard for it and then we won. It was the best.

What do you find most satisfying about your sport?

When our team comes together. We all get along and we are like a family. It’s pretty cool when everyone works as a team on the field.

Who do you look up to?

I’ve always looked up to my coaches. Cope, Ali, Kyle, Joel – all of them have helped me a lot.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before competing?

No. If you weren’t playing soccer, what would you do with your free time?

I don’t know. Probably more homework or working.

What advice do you have for underclassmen breaking into soccer?

I think it is really important to give everything from the very first day. If you don’t give everything that you have from the beginning, you will regret it.

Is it difficult to balance your sport with being a student and working?

Yes, kind of. Between work and school I don’t have a lot of time.

Where do you hope your sport takes you?

I want to play in college. It would be great to keep playing.

What’s the most significant thing a coach or teammate has said to you?

I was told that the most important thing is to play as a team. It’s simple and true.

Vail Daily 09/15/2013

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Sports

A16 | Sunday, September 15, 2013 | Vail Daily

Eagle Valley puts on a show at home meet Boys win Eagle Valley Invite

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

GYPSUM — Home cooking is always good, especially when you get up at 6 a.m.

“We actually were out there at 6 a.m. on Wednesday before the golfers woke up,” said Devils coach Melinda Brandt of the Gypsum Creek Golf course. “It’s the third year in a row there and it’s definitely an enjoyable and gorgeous place to have a meet.”

After its early-morning scout run of its home course, the Eagle Valley boys cross country team made itself quite at home Saturday, winning its home meet for the second year in a row.

And if it rains, that’s OK “It’s a pretty fun course,” the Devils’ Nikki Cunning said. “It’s nice to run on a grass, nice soft surface. I love running in the rain.”

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but Gino Giovagnoli and Nathan Maddox went 1-2 for the Devils.

“A lot of it is pushing each other, driving each other to be better,” Maddox said. “It’s competitive, but we’re friends. We’re not out to get each other.”

And that’s good news because a Tanya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan tire-iron incident would be quite unbecoming.

The real story was Rafael Gurule surging up into 12th. Come regionals, and, knock wood, state, every team has top-line runners like Giovagnoli and Maddox. A powerful team needs depth. Gurule joining up with Eagle-Valley’s

JUSTIN MCCARTY | JMCCARTY@VAILDAILY.COM

Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s Ian Boucher, left, and Cal Deline, right, lead the pack during the first half of their race at the Eagle Valley Invitational cross country race Saturday at the Gypsum Creek Golf Course. Boucher and Deline finished second and third overall, respectively, in the race.

1-2 punch is a good sign.

“Rafa definitely moved up and surprised everyone today,” Maddox said. “It’s encouraging because Rafa’s been working to do that and it finally happened. That

gives us faith for regionals.”

And for his efforts, Gurule got the Hoss Award for the boys. If you’re not familiar with Devils cross country, the team itself votes on that honor after each race for

JUSTIN MCCARTY | JMCCARTY@VAILDAILY.COM

Eagle Valley’s Nathan Maddox barrels down the final stretch of his 5K run during the Eagle Valley Invitational cross country meet Saturday in Gypsum. the most inspirational runner.

Also of note is that Eagle Valley’s boys had runners in the 17-minute range for the first time

this season. That’s an encouraging sign for mid-September.

CROSS COUNTRY, A18

LOCAL SPORTS BRIEFS

Gore Rangers soccer doubles up at Aspen

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

ASPEN — Welcome back, William Sterret.

Vail Mountain School soccer welcomed back its senior keeper to the lineup Saturday and celebrated by defeating Aspen, 2-1, in nonleague play on the road.

“It’s great,” VMS coach Pete Petrovski said. “He brings another element of senior leadership.

That gives us a senior in goal, a senior at stopper and a couple of other seniors on defense. The guys have confidence in him to guide them.”

This was Sterret’s first game since knee surgery, and in a delightful development, the Gore

Rangers did not fall behind, 2-0, immediately. In fact, shock of shocks, VMS actually scored the first goal of the game when Clay Kirwood jumped on a ball rattling around inside the 18 and knocked it into the onion bag.

Tied at one, the game-winner was a thing of beauty. Watts Austen made a run down the flank, and Kirwood ran onto the ball slickly. Kirwood beat his defender in the corner and sent it out to Peter Ferraro at the top of the box. The freshman one-timed it into the net for his first varsity goal. File that under the category of “excellent timing.”

The Gore Rangers are 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the 3A Slope. VMS hosts Roaring Fork at venerable Bandoni

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Alumni Field on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Like Saturday’s game, Tuesday’s tilt is a nonleague one.

Volleyball

Saints sweep Rangely EDWARDS — Call it a good week for Vail Christian volleyball.

The Saints capped a 2-0 stretch in 2A Slope play with a 25-18, 25-15, 26-24 dusting of Rangely at the Wheeler Athletic Center in Edwards on Saturday. That leaves Vail Christian with a 2-1 mark in the league after a loss to Meeker last weekend.

“It’s learning how to overcome mistakes without messing up a whole game,” Saints coach Cathy Alexander said. “(Against Meeker),

we would mess up a point, and it would take two or three points to recover. Now, it’s ‘That was a point.

Let’s move on.’ That’s something we worked on before our matches this week.”

Celia Smith (11) and Taylor Alexander (10) led the attack in kills. Bella McCormick topped the Saints in digs with 17. Remy Beveridge had a solid game with 23 assists and 13 digs.

Vail Christian (5-3) is scheduled to host the Vail Mountain School on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Huskies nab Bulldogs PALISADE — Down goes Palisade. Down goes Palisade.

Battle Mountain got a big

monkey of its collective back Saturday knocking off two-time defending league champion Palisade, 25-19, 25-9, 2512, Saturday afternoon in the Bulldogs’ home gym.

It’s early in the season, but this could be one of those matches one looks back on at the end of the season.

“It was a good win for the program, particularly for the seniors,” Huskies coach Jason Fitzgerald said. “This is the first time they’ve beaten Palisade and it means a lot to them. It was just another strong all-around performance.”

Battle Mountain is 2-0 in the 4A Slope and 3-1 overall. The Huskies host Glenwood Springs on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

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Callan Deline and Ian Boucher enjoyed a nice view from the front row of the 2A boys race. Photo by Tim Hilt.

For those of you who decided that the heat and hills of the Norris Penrose event center were enough to keep you away from the afternoon 2A/3A races, you missed some great cross country.

2A girls got the ball rolling for the varsity portion of the pre-state meet and it was a flyer versus pack running affair. Ginger Hutton managed to gap the rest of the field by nearly 50 seconds, finishing with a time of 22:21.00. Hutton's fellow Lionesses scored 7 and 20, but Shining Mountain nevetheless fell to Vanguard by a three-point margin.

Led by Ariana Toland, Vanguard ran closely knit 4-5-16.

Just like last year, Eva-Lou Edwards moved away early and never looked back in the 3A girls race. She crossed the finish line 1:16 ahead of the nearest competitor with a time of 19:59.10. That time is over fifty seconds slower that her state winning time last year, but considering how early it is in the season and the temperature nearing ninety degrees, nobody should be doubting her abilities.

Lindsey Chavez of Holy Family took 5th, leading her team to a 5-8-19-31 triumph. Holy Family is building something of winning streak on this course.

The 2A boys race was shaken up by the presence of newcomers from the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy. The mystery men, Ian Boucher, Callan Deline, and Cully Brown, wore unmarked chartreuse t-shirts and led the pack for the entire race. The result was an impressive 1-2-7 finish, nicely done for an early season caper. Boucher and Deline finished with times of 17:51 and 17:55 respectively. This group will be one to watch closely this fall, but--at least for this year--they will not be eligible for postseason CHSAA competition.

Please pardon the hackneyed phrasing, but Josh Davis and the Savages mean business. Lamar ran an 1-4-21-26 spread in boys 3A, giving a long pause to any naysayers thinking that eastern schools have no chance at a higher altitude or on hills. Davis ran to a very tactical victory. He posted a time of 17:25.80 just six seconds slower than his state time last year, and he gapped the next finisher by 47 seconds.

What may be the most disconcerting is that Davis was trailing off the leaders in 4th at the base of the Big Willis Hill (about 1.25 miles into the race), meaning the flatlander made his biggest move over the course’s most difficult section.

Peak to Peak placed second with a 10-17-18-22 spread. It seems as though pack running will be an annual theme for the Pumas.

Whatever your opinions may be regarding the Stampede, it certainly heated up the small school conversation for the time being.

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The Vail Daily

| Saturday, August 31, 2013 | A39

VMS soccer routs Grand Valley, 7-0, on Thursday Devils fall at Central

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

EAST VAIL — Touchdown, Gore Rangers.

Nope, different kind of football. The Vail Mountain School soccer team got off to a solid start Thursday afternoon with a 7-0 blanking of Grand Valley at Bandoni Alumni Field.

Peter Smith scored twice, as did Dylan Cunningham. Garrett Cerny, Trevor Sheldon and Ryan Schmidt also found the onion bag.

“We started off a little sluggish, but cleaned it up a little toward the end of the first half,” said first-year VMS coach Pete Petrovski. “We were playing really well in the second half.”

While VMS was never in danger of losing this one — the Gore Rangers led, 4-0, at the half — it was more of an issue of playing the ball to feet rather than trying to contest balls in the air.

To that end, VMS’ Man of the Match was Watts Austen. The outside midfielder helped shut down the Cardinals and was very efficient in moving the Gore Rangers forward.

Hunter Meier and John Linn shared the shutout between the pipes.

Thursday was the first of two meetings between the Gore Rangers and Cardinals, and the second on Sept. 12 in Parachute will be the one that counts toward the 3A Slope table. VMS, nonetheless, will happily take the three points.

The Gore Rangers get a much-stiffer match Thursday when they head to

JAMES MILLS | SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

The Vail Mountain School’s Ryan Schmidt advances on Grand Valley on Thursday at Bandoni Alumni Field. Schmidt netted one goal in the Gore Rangers’ win.

Newcastle to face Coal Ridge, also a league opponent, but a non-league game.

“We’re excited, but we’re taking (the win) with a grain of salt,” Petrovski said. “We understand that Grand Valley is in the fourth year of building their program. We understand where they are and where we’re trying to be. Thursday will be a good test.”

GRAND JUNCTION

Devils fall in OT Eagle Valley soccer was in the mix the entire way in a 3-2 season-opening loss at Grand Junction Central.

“We were very competitive,” Devils coach Bratzo Horruitiner said. “We had great ball control. We’re looking pretty good. The result just came on one run of play.”

Eagle Valley has its home opener as well as its first league game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Hot Stuff Stadium.

We will be donating 10% of Sunday’s sales to the Rotary Club, which provides scholarships to local students. celebrating 40 years | squashblossom.com 198 Gore Creek Drive, Vail Village | 970.476.3129

Vail Daily 09/14/2013

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The Vail Daily

VMS soccer rallies again, defeats Grand Valley, 6-2 Gore Rangers now 3-1 overall, 1-0 in Slope play

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

PARACHUTE — Stop giving your coach a heart attack.

Vail Mountain School soccer fell behind 2-0 for the second-straight game — this time Thursday at Grand Valley in the 3A Slope opener — before rallying for a 6-2 victory against the Cardinals. “My heart rate was up for quite some time today,� said VMS coach Pete Petrovski, who is still among the living today.

EARLY CHANCES

The weather was nasty down in Parachute, but the Gore Rangers (3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Slope) also started slow.

VMS had several early scoring chances, but did not convert.

Grand Valley was more than happy to take advantage of the opening and jumped out to a 2-0 lead. “I think one of the things we need to do is get our forwards to relax and ďŹ nish our opportunities,â€? Petrovski said. “We got four or ďŹ ve chances, and we’ve got to slot a few of those in. We need to get a little more focus right off the bat. But, for a high school team, going from the van to the ďŹ eld is challenging.â€?

Trevor Sheldon to Clay Kirwood got VMS going. This was part of magniďŹ cent play

from the left side of the midďŹ eld for the Gore Rangers. Sheldon and freshman Eric Zdechlik played a big role in transition for VMS. Gore Rangers senior Billy Mitchell was Johnny-on-the-spot during the closing minutes of the half. Grand Valley’s keeper mishandled a cross through the box, but Mitchell followed the ight of the ball and smashed it home for the equalizer. “I thought we were tense and that took all the pressure away,â€? Petrovski said.

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And then the oodgates opened for VMS. Garrett Cerny got what would be the game-winner. Zdechlik had a beautiful one-timer from the top of the box to make it 4-2. VMS was missing senior Brandon Rosenbach (concussion), so Ryan Schmidt went back to center back. After a little shuffling, Schmidt moved up to center midďŹ eld and was back in the ow of the attack. Schmidt got the credit for an own goal, which was nice karma payback for the crossbar he hit Tuesday against Lake County.

Kirwood and Sheldon played a little giveand-go for VMS with the former getting the team’s sixth and ďŹ nal score.

Next up for VMS is a nonconference game at Aspen today at 11 a.m. The two teams play the league tilt Oct. 17 in East Vail.

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 and cfreud@vaildaily.com.

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The Road to Sochi-Sneak Peak 9-11-13 Posted on 9/11/2013

In an Olympic season, the young athletes of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail quietly prepare for the grandest stage in winter sports Caption: Olympic hopeful Paula Moltzan of SSCV. Photo special to SneakPEAK.

By Phil Lindeman ============= The contenders Ski and Snowboard Club Vail has produced a respectable number of Olympians, from Vail native Sara Schleper to the town’s adopted daughter, Lindsey Vonn. Although nothing is certain

at this point, SneakPEAK took a look at the club athletes and alums poised to podium at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Sylvan Ellefson – While notching top-three finishes at nearly every race of the Vail Recreation District’s summer trail series, the 26-year-old had his sights on Nordic gold come February. The SSCV alum is part of the club’s “Team Homegrown” squad, a group of Colorado natives and FIS World Cup competitors including top-ranked Noah Hoffman. Ellefson has until Jan. 12 to make the U.S. Ski Team roster, and after barely missing the cut for Vancouver, he’s ready to bring a medal back to his hometown.

Ayumu Hirano – The 15-year-old Japanese snowboarding phenom began training with SSCV last season and his move to the states couldn’t have come at a better time. He placed second at Vail’s inaugural Burton U.S. Open – he nearly upset perennial favorite Shaun White – and was crowned Overall Halfpipe Champion by the World Snowboard Tour. Hirano will compete for Japan’s Olympic team, but his time at SSCV won’t be overlooked.

Heidi Kloser – Last season was hit-or-miss for the 21-year-old mogul specialist. She earned four top-10 finishes on the World Cup circuit, starting with an early silver medal – her best finish ever – before slowly tapering off. But quietly earning points has its perks: Sochi marks her first shot at the Olympics since joining the U.S. Ski Team five years ago, and she enters the season in her prime. The daughter of legendary adventure racer Mike Kloser is a born competitor – she could easily earn an Olympic berth (and medal) this winter. ============== At 16 years old, Aaron Blunck suddenly had to grow up.

It was moments before the elimination round at the 2012 X Games in Aspen and the Crested Butte native felt twinges of irrepressible nervousness. With 15,000 screaming fans wrapped around the superpipe and Buttermilk base area below, Blunck was beyond the point of no return.

He cinched his boots tighter, stepped into signature Head twin tips and pointed down the pipe.

The first run left Blunck solidly in the middle of the pack, but a second-run score of 78.33 was enough to push him through the elimination round and into the 10-man finals. Simply sessioning the Aspen pipe was a surprise – strong finishes at FIS World Cup and U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix events earned a last-minute invite – but the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail rising star was prepared for the challenge. He just had to get that first run out of the way, like a seasoned baseball player fouling out before taking the ball deep.

“I’m a thrill seeker when it comes to competition,” Blunck says. “It’s the best of the best – it defines who has the mental strength to win. I love the adrenaline rush when I’m at the top and finding my zone. Sometimes I can hardly speak.”

The next day, beneath glaring lights and the enamored gaze of nearly twice as many fans, Blunck finished ahead of heavyweights like Tanner Hall and Jossi Wells to take seventh place at his first-ever X Games. By the end of the season, he was ranked fourth overall on the Association of

Freeskiing Professionals circuit. He even returned to Buttermilk and won the Aspen/Snowmass Freeski Open, solidly beating a veteran field with only one competitor younger than him.

Now 17 years old, Blunck is older, wiser and bolder. He’s already feeding off that breakout season: Nearly three months before Vail opened, he earned a silver medal during his first trip to the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup in New Zealand. The weather was sketchy, but with the help of SSCV Freestyle Program Director Elana Chase, he overcame frustrating practice runs to miss gold by three points.

“I said, ‘Today is a new day, today is a good day,’ and just forgot what happened in the past,” Blunck says. “Elana always says when I ski and have fun, I do well. It’s simple, but it’s true.”

The jitters from that frigid evening in Aspen have faded and Blunck is ready for the next step in his burgeoning career: the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Sochi Games mark the first time in history that ski halfpipe is on the Olympic roster, and like a handful of fellow SSCV athletes, Blunck is coming of age at the exact right moment.

“There will be a Cinderella story out there and heartbreak out there, but that’s the Olympics,” Chase says. “I’m excited to see who comes away with the Cinderella story, but I don’t have a crystal ball. It’s a great ride, and all these stories have value and sacrifice.”

An Olympic season With the Olympics just a few short months away, the mood at Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy – the academic branch of SSCV – is surprisingly calm. Blunck and nearly 400 fellow student athletes returned to school two weeks back, and between new classwork and daily dryland training, they’ve hardly had time to think about Sochi some 6,000 miles away. With 360 skiers, snowboarders and Nordic racers, SSCV is easily one of the largest ski clubs in the nation, but the academy is almost shockingly sedate.

Blunck isn’t the only SSCV athlete poised to visit Russia in February. Slopestyle-turned-skicross racer Cristhian Ravelo is vying for a spot on the U.S. Ski Team, while Blunck’s training partner Torin Yater-Wallace would shock the freeski world if he failed to make the cut.

And yet, even the pipe jockeys who never before had a chance for Olympic gold are relatively quiet. Perhaps they take after their coach: Chase has worked with David Wise, Jen Hudak and nearly a dozen freeski innovators, but she calls the U.S. team almost impossibly competitive, particularly against veterans eyeing their first Olympics.

“It will be a dogfight to make that team,” Chase says. “At the same time, it seems the veterans have realized these young Colorado guys are here to stay. Everyone is trying to make their dreams come true and these guys are doing what it takes. They’re making sacrifices and seeing the rewards.”

Chase and the other SSCV coaches know sacrifice is built into the Olympics. Eagle County natives like Nordic skier Sylvan Ellefson and slalom wunderkind Mikaela Shiffrin train on-and-

off with the club throughout the year, then travel the world for months at a time to rack up points on the FIS circuit.

Although Shiffrin steals headlines – at 18 years old, she’s already the first non-European to win four World Cup slalom races in a season – fellow U.S. ski team member and slalom specialist Paula Moltzan is hot on her trail. In mid-August, she won gold at the Audi New Zealand Winter Games, just a few short months after her first World Cup start in Aspen. Like Blunck, the 19year-old Minnesota native returned from the southern hemisphere with a medal and plenty of confidence – even if the win was a shock.

“It was pretty amazing going against that kind of competition and coming out on top,” Moltzan says. “I didn’t expect it at all – I was incredibly surprised.”

Moltzan grew up skiing on the fast, short hills of Buck Hill. She quickly learned the sort of edge control that big-mountain skier occasionally lack, and like fellow Midwest darling Linsey Vonn, Moltzan practically exploded when she came to the long and steep Rocky Mountain courses as a high school junior. SSCV Alpine Program Director Karen Ghent recognized the teen’s potential – and raw talent – early on.

“She has a lot of training under her belt, with the combination of the gate training she had in Minnesota and the big-mountain experience she got once she came to Colorado,” Ghent says.

“Those are the skills you need to be competitive on the international circuit.”

Moltzan is in her third season on the U.S. Ski Team, but that doesn’t guarantee a ticket to the Olympics. She’s as cautiously optimistic as the rest, with her attention solidly locked on training at the team’s off-season headquarters in Park City, Utah.

“There’s not much time to think about the Olympics, but it’s still fun,” Moltzan says. “You see lots of people marketing the team and looking ahead to what will happen. You really can’t escape that. It’s a big deal, definitely, but If sacrifice defines the Olympics, non-stop improvement is a welcome distraction and reward.

Like a female counterpart to Bode Miller, Moltzan competes the best when her mind is almost completely blank. This isn’t to say she’s out of control – instead, she trusts her athletic instincts.

“I really don’t think a lot when I ski,” Moltzan says. “I think that’s one of my strengths – I don’t overthink my movements and let my body do the work. It’s something I’ve done since I started racing, and it works well.”

While in Park City, Moltzan balances training with a fulltime nanny job. Both give her plenty of time to think, and although she shuts off her mind during competition, she’s slowly pinpointing ways to improve. Oddly enough, her biggest fault is linked to her strengths.

“I’m working on control right now. Even though I like to shut off, I still need to have a better idea of when I’m going too fast or need to have a better eye for the gates,” Moltzan says.

“There’s always something to work on, and in skiing it changes day by day.”

Back in Vail, Blunck is also weeding out his weaknesses. Inimitable style paired with inverted 900s and 1080s keep him in the upper echelon of pipe skiing, but he needs to find more amplitude with each hit. Chase says he can easily go bigger – he averages 15 to 17 feet above the lip per hit – but she’s most worried about the burgeoning sport’s greatest intangible: fame.

“He’s still sort of seen as an up-and-comer and an underdog, but he’s continually a threat and is starting to make a name for himself,” Chase says. “He really just needs to not let it go to his head, let that fame pull him away from the training.”

Just the beginning Over the past five decades, SSCV has helped dozens of athletes like Blunck and Moltzan blossom into Olympic contenders. Now it’s time for the club itself to grow: In August, officials with the club and Town of Minturn broke ground on a new, 8,500-square-foot fitness center at Maloit Park, just steps from the academy campus.

The center will replace the cramped training center at SSCV’s Golden Peak clubhouse – it’s little more than a glorified wrestling room – and comes complete with the amenities soon-to-be Olympians need, from stationary bikes and free weights to pneumatic squat racks and studio space.

John Cole, human performance director for the club, says the fitness center was a long time coming. It’s the first collaboration of its kind in the nation: The center is open to all Eagle County residents, with rec center pricing for Minturn locals and private health club rates for anyone else. Anyone who visits will have access to fitness care from Cole’s team, including alpine necessities like injury prevention and sport-specific training.

“We’re been masters at making a lot out of a little for the past 20 years,” Cole says. “We also want to show that performance training is not just for legends or Olympians. We live in a very athletic community, and we’re excited to see how that community will benefit from these programs.”

By the time the fitness center is completed in late April of next year – a tentative date, Cole is careful to add – the Olympics will be two months gone. Stateside competition will wind down for the bulk of SSCV’s athletes, and their attention will again return to algebra and U.S. politics.

Chase has been part of the cycle for years, but it’s the natural order of a sport she and Blunck and Moltzan love.

“You have to remember why you began this journey in the first place, which is to bring our sport to the world,” Chase says. “You have to be happy for the moment.”

Vail Daily 09/11/2013

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Sports

A16 | Wednesday, September 11, 2013 | Vail Daily

Mandy Ortiz tops podium at Jr. Worlds Eagle runner nabs first gold for US

By Nancy Hobbs Special to the Daily

KRYNICA-ZDROJ, Poland — At the 29th World Mountain Running Championships on Sunday in Krynic-Zdroj, Poland, 18-year-old Mandy Ortiz of Eagle was the individual champion in the junior women’s division leading the way to a silver-medal finish for Team USA. Ortiz’s teammates, Tabor Scholl, 16, of Kremmling, who is a junior at West Grand High School, and Emma Abrahamson, 16, Carlsbad, Calif., who is a senior La Costa Canyon High School, finished in 16th and 21st place, respectively to give Team USA a combined score (the first two team members score), of 17, just two points ahead of thirdplace team Russia. In first, the team from Great Britain finished with nine points.

This is the first gold medal for a U.S. junior athlete and the second team junior medal.

At this year’s event, junior women competed over a 4.6-kilometer uphill/downhill variety course on a ski area within the Jaworzyna Mountains. Ortiz, who is a freshman at University of Colorado, covered the distance in a time of 22 minutes, 56 seconds to best the field of 40 finishers.

Lea Einfalt, of Slovenia, finished second in 23:07, while Turkey’s Tubay Erdal rounded out the top three in 23:21.

Within minutes after her firstplace finish, Ortiz was interviewed by local press and asked, among other things, if it was her best running experience to date.

Smiling Ortiz had a short oneword response, “Yes.”

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Mandy Ortiz, of Eagle, stands on top of the podium after winning the junior women’s division on Sunday during the World Mountain Running Championships in Poland.

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY

Eagle’s Mandy Ortiz runs at the World Mountain Running Championships in Poland on Sunday. Ortiz captured the gold medal in the junior women’s division.

Later, Ortiz was interviewed by Team USA staff and asked how she felt about her finish.

“I still think it’s my greatest accomplishment ever. It’s a really cool experience,” said Ortiz. “It went way above my expectations.

I was hoping for a top-20 finish. I really didn’t know where I’d be. It went way above what I thought I was capable of.”

What motivated Ortiz most on the course was not just the cheering crowd, which she admitted

definitely helped, “Just knowing I was ready for this. I just remembered things my Mom (Anita) told me – giving it my best on the uphill. I’m definitely stronger on the uphill. I went into the first uphill in about 10th place. The downhill is not as good for me since I don’t have the leg speed.”

Ortiz moved into first on the grass hill (in the open part of the ski area).

“I was worried that I was going to pass the girls and then I’d get passed back. But no one did, said Ortiz. “It made me feel good. It made me feel strong.

“The finish almost didn’t feel real. It was such an amazing feeling, it was hard to believe it just happened. It makes me feel

confident that I can run at a high level. It just makes me excited for years to come.”

When asked whether her plans in 2014 included a return to the World Mountain Running Championships to defend her title, Ortiz said, “Definitely. I would love to come back next year.”

In order to compete as a junior athlete, the individual must be at least 16 in the year of competition and not yet 20. Ortiz has one more year of eligibility as a junior since she turns 19 in March 2014.

The course for the 2014 World Championships to be held in Italy next September will be an uphill course, Ortiz’s specialty. The U.S. junior team which will compete at the World Championships will be selected in July 2014.

Vail Mountain School gets a clank, then wins Cerny strikes twice

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

EAST VAIL — A clank is usually not a good thing in soccer.

But that sound off the crossbar seemed to get the Vail Mountain School going on Tuesday at historic Bandoni Alumni Field against Lake County. The Gore Rangers rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the visiting Panthers for a 3-2 nonconference victory.

“I wish I hit the ball a little lower, placed it a little more,” VMS

junior midfielder Ryan Schmidt said. “I’ll work on that in practice and get it next time.”

The clank, though, started the ball rolling for VMS (2-2).

“It definitely built momentum, builds confidence in our players,” Schmidt said. “Now, they see the scoring opportunity. Now, they want to score.”

And score they did, and that leads to a happy bunch going into Thursday’s 3A Slope opener at Grand Valley.

“I think it’s huge for them, to be able to pull back, that you can overcome adversity against a team that came down here and played

All contents © Copyright 2013 Swift 09/11/2013

really hard,” VMS coach Pete Petrovski said. “(Lake County is) well-coached. They tried as hard as any team we’ve played. To be able to come back and score three goals is a big accomplishment.”

After the crossbar, two VMS shots on the Panthers’ net went wide right, including one from Garrett Cerny. File that miss away for later.

Clayton Kirwood finally got the Gore Rangers on the board in the 30th minute, halving the Lake County lead to 2-1.

“The last 10 minutes of the half, we started picking it up,” Cerny said. “Coach helped us with a nice

speech (at halftime) about what we needed to do and that we could beat these guys. It helped us to gain some momentum.”

And Cerny took things over nicely in the second half. He scored both in the 46th and 48th minutes. Dylan Cunningham notched his second assist of the afternoon on Cerny’s first. Cerny broke into the Panthers’ end just two minutes later. Lake County goalie Eriberto Rodriguez stopped the first shot, but was out of position for Cerny’s second.

“It feels great to look up and see a wide-open goal and be many yards away from the next

defender,” Cerny said. “It was a fun goal. Sometimes your eyes get too wide. In the first half, I had a few situations where I couldn’t handle it.”

VMS did a good job of playing to feet on Tuesday. It makes a lot of sense, considering the Gore Rangers play on turf and aren’t the tallest bunch when it comes to getting 50-50 balls out of the air. On the other side of the ledger, VMS will need to play a more diagonal game to the flanks and the outside of the pitch as the season progresses.

“We found ourselves pinching in

VMS SOCCER, A17

September 23, 2013 12:19 am / Powered by TECNAVIA

Vail Daily 09/11/2013

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The Vail Daily

| Wednesday, September 11, 2013 | A17

19th Annual Vail Mountain School’s Ryan Schmidt leaps over Lake County’s Michael Diaz, left, during the Gore Rangers’ 3-2 win on Tuesday in East Vail.

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR DTAYLOR@ VAILDAILY.COM

VMS SOCCER

From page A16

too much at times,â€? Petrovski said. “When we are wide, I feel we are much more effective especially when we beat the ďŹ rst guy and try to move the ball around.â€?

VMS heads to Parachute on Thursday for the league opener against Grand Valley. The Gore Rangers pasted the Cardinals, 7-0, in the season opener (a nonconference game) in East Vail nearly two weeks ago. The message in practice will be to avoid taking Grand Valley lightly. “I think we have to put ourselves in their shoes,� Petrovski said. “If someone came in and beat us, 7-0, we’d be pretty upset about it and we’d want to have our best showing.

We’re going to make that very clear tomorrow to our guys in training.�

Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 and cfreud@vaildaily.com.

Saturday, September 14th, 2013 Presented by

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Vail Mountain School’s Garret Cerny, right, takes a shot at goal past Lake County’s Mario Rosales, left, during their game on Tuesday at the Vail Mountain School in East Vail. Cerny had two goals in the Gore Rangers’ 3-2 victory over the Panthers.

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Sports

Vail Daily | Tuesday, September 3, 2013 | A13

Vonn skis in Chile, optimistic about knee Sochi Olympics five months away

of course. She’s just three wins shy of tying Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell’s women’s mark of 62 World Cup victories.

By Pat Graham

SOCHI OLYMPICS

AP Sports Writer

Lindsey Vonn is skiing in Chile and way ahead of her rehab schedule with the Sochi Olympics five months away.

“I can’t tell which knee is injured,” she said in a statement released through her U.S. team.

“That’s a good sign.”

The four-time World Cup overall champion returned to the slopes over the weekend nearly seven months after her injury.

She eased her way back with two gentle and relaxed training runs.

The next day, she revved it up a little more, taking a few gradual turns along the course in Portillo, Chile.

Her surgically repaired right knee held up fine. So much so that Vonn now envisions some slalom gate training by the time the two-week camp with the ski team ends.

The reigning Olympic downhill champion shredded her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments during a crash at the world championships in Schladming, Austria, last February. She wasn’t supposed to even begin thinking about stepping back into ski boots until at least November.

But her knee has progressed so much and so fast that she’s significantly bumped up her timetable.

AP PHOTO

Lindsey Vonn, left, works with U.S. ski team coach Jeff Fergus in Portillo, Chile, on Saturday. The four-time World Cup overall champion returned to the slopes during the weekend nearly seven months after her injury. She eased her way back with two gentle and relaxed training runs.

Vonn plans on returning to the World Cup circuit for the races in Beaver Creek, Colo., in late November.

‘MY BODY FEELS READY’

“I’ve crashed a lot in my career and I’m just getting back up as fast as I can,” said Vonn, who made headlines in March by announcing she was dating Tiger Woods.

“Unfortunately, it’s taken me seven

months to get back up this time, but I was really excited to get back out there. It feels like the right time and my body feels ready.”

Vonn had plenty of company on the course in Chile, joining fellow skiers Julia Mancuso, Stacey Cook, Leanne Smith and Laurenne Ross.

The 28-year-old Vonn arrived on Saturday and promptly headed for the hill, not wanting to waste time

after being cleared. She took it easy at first, with nothing too extreme.

On Sunday, she tested herself some more, gently arcing into turns on the flatter sections of the hill.

This was Vonn’s version of caution.

“I usually go from zero to a hundred,” she said. “I’m not good in between, so this is going to be a challenge.”

It could turn into an historic season for Vonn — knee willing,

And then there’s the Sochi Games, where her expectations remain high as ever.

“I’m going to be back just as good, if not better, than I was before,” Vonn recently said.

As for her wipeout, she’s watched it over and over again, trying to figure out what exactly happened. Here’s the short take: Cruising along, Vonn hit a patch of softer snow that caused her right ski to stop and then buckle.

She then flipped over her ski tips.

“I’ve had crashes that were honestly much worse than this one,” Vonn said.

Seven months ago, it looked as if the Olympics might be out of the question. Or, if she did make it into the starting gate, she wouldn’t be the same skier who won the downhill at the Vancouver Games four years ago.

But she’s made a rapid recovery, her knee already “98 percent” healthy compared to her good one. She also no longer needs to ice her knee after a workout.

“I knew I would get to this point. I just didn’t know how long it would take me,” Vonn said. “I didn’t know how fast or slow the recovery process would be. But I always knew I’d be back. I never really doubted it. I’m really happy that I’m finally 100 percent and I’m not injured anymore.”

Kershaw hit hard, Dodgers top Rockies, 10-8 Yasiel Puig injured

from a league-leading 1.72 to 1.89.

He had a productive day at the plate, though, lining a two-run

By Pat Graham single in the fifth.

AP Sports Writer Jeff Manship (0-5) took the loss as he gave up three runs — two earned — in relief of starter Chad DENVER — Clayton Kershaw Bettis. surrendered a career-high 11 hits The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled in five shaky innings and got the win and Yasiel Puig scored the late, with Ronald Belisario allowing two runs in the eighth to cut go-ahead run before leaving with a strained right knee as the surgthe lead to 8-7. But he got Michael Cuddyer to hit into an inninging Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 10-8 on ending double play with the tying runner on third.

Monday.

Puig was called out for interLos Angeles added two insurance runs in the ninth on a runference on the bases in the first inning. He then hurt his knee on scoring single from Juan Uribe and an RBI double from Carl an awkward slide into third base and gingerly jogged home on Crawford.

All contents Copyright Swift came in handy as Kenley Hanley Ramirez’s©sacrifice fly in 2013That 09/03/2013 the sixth, before being replaced in Jansen endured a rocky ninth, right field. giving up a solo homer to Wilin Rosario, before picking up his Andre Ethier had three hits, 25th save in 28 chances. including a two-run homer, to lift

LeMahieu as the second baseman tried to field a grounder. Puig was called out for runner’s interference, nullifying a run.

Later, the rookie hit a liner that LeMahieu jumped high to snare and then quickly tossed to second to double-up Kershaw. Puig also was hit in the side by a pitch from Bettis.

In the sixth, Puig was hustling from first to third when he slid past the bag, reaching back to grab it. He stayed on the ground for a moment before standing on the bag.

After Puig scored on Ramirez’s sacrifice fly, Skip Schumaker took his place. Puig is hitting .351 this season.

ROCKIES BIG FIRST INNING

Kershaw had a forgettable first inning, giving up an uncharacteristic three runs. After that, the

AP PHOTO

September 23, 2013 pm / Powered TECNAVIA Colorado Rockies’ Michael Cuddyer hits5:46 an RBI-single in the firstby inning on Monday in Denver. Despite scoring three runs in the first inning against Clayton Kershaw, the Rockies lost to the Dodgers, 10-8. double in the bottom half of the

include Troy Tulowitzki or Todd

Vail Daily 08/29/2013

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Sports

A26 | Thursday, August 29, 2013 | Vail Daily

Saints turn to the ground for 2013 season Vail Christian kicks off Friday

By Chris Freud cfreud@vaildaily.com

EDWARDS — Vail Christian 8-man football will be a running team in 2013.

The next thing you know, Saints coach Tim Pierson might miss Friday night’s opener against Plateau Valley at 7 p.m. at Eagle Valley High School.

Oh, wait, that’s happening, too.

Pierson and his beloved and much-better half, Tabitha, as well as daughter, Carly, 3, are expecting a boy. Said future member of the Vail Christian Class of 2031 is due Friday.

If young master Pierson arrives, the Saints will be in the very capable hands of Todd Ellsworth against the Cowboys, and we all send the Piersons the best.

And, by the way, we aren’t kidding about the Saints running the ball.

With three-year starting quarterback Austin Ellsworth at Illinois College — Go Blueboys! — it’s time to retool. And that means three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust football for the Saints.

(For those who have watched the Saints for many years, this hurts the brain a bit, since Vail Christian is traditionally a passing team. But, let’s go with it people.)

Pierson will be using a twoquarterback system with junior Michael Lange and senior Branden Currey.

The backfield is big — perhaps, a clue as to why the Saints are going to the ground game. Cole

DOMINIQUE TAYLOR | DAILY FILE PHOTO

Vail Christian opens the season Friday at Eagle Valley against Plateau Valley at 7 p.m., with four returning starters on defense and new ground game.

Caynoski is there as is Ethan Ellsworth.

Now, first, if you are getting confused by all the Ellsworths, you’re not the only one. Second, yes, young master Ethan is moving to play some offense this season. Fear not, he will still be creaming people as a linebacker on defense.

“Cole’s worked hard and wants his touches,” Pierson said. “Ethan is a tackling machine and hasn’t played much running back, but he’s very physical kid. Going back

to middle school, Austin has always been the quarterback and Ethan has always been the guy who hits the quarterback. But Ethan will be on offense.”

Paving the way starts with center Ryan Hethcoat. He’s a sophomore, but he started all last season as a freshman, so he’s a veteran. Max Scramm is at left guard, and Keagen Mullin is on the right side.

The Saints have a pair of goodhands tight ends in Alex Davis and Clayton Davis.

The Saints will be in a 3-3 defense with Schramm as the nose guard and Currey and Alex Davis as ends.

Caynoski heads up the linebackers with Ellsworth and Kennedy Nary on the outside. The safeties are Lange and Clayton Davis.

Pierson says the defensive unit should be pretty solid with four returning starters on the unit.

The Central League looks pretty tough, but everyone except West Grand has a new

quarterback. Said Mustangs are the favorites in the league until someone says otherwise.

Hayden graduated 13 seniors, but the Tigers are very deep and still one year removed from Class 1A 11-man football. Rangely could be one of the biggest teams in the league, and Soroco is always tough, especially for Vail Christian. (The Saints beat the Rams for the first time last fall.)

After the Saints’ opener, Vail Christian is at Rocky Mountain Lutheran in Week 2.

Vonn back home, cleared to return to snow Skier has her eyes on Beaver Creek return, building to Sochi

By Edward Stoner estoner@vaildaily.com

VAIL — Lindsey Vonn is ready to get back on snow.

After suffering a serious knee injury at the World Championships last winter, she’s undergone surgery, done months of rehab and put in hours upon hours in the gym.

“I’ve spent so much time in the gym, I can barely take one more day,” Vonn said.

On Wednesday, she was — surprise — back in the gym in Vail.

But she won’t have to wait much longer to get on skis. Vonn has been cleared to return to snow and is headed to Portillo, Chile, on Friday to test out her surgically repaired right knee.

The four-time overall World Cup alpine skiing champion and defending Olympic downhill gold-medal winner suffered a torn ACL and MCL and a lateral tibial plateau fracture in a nasty crash at the World Championships in Schladming, Austria, last February. Her doctor, William Sterett of Vail-Summit Orthopaedics, who performed the surgery, examined the knee Monday and gave her the go-ahead to get back onto skis.

Vonn will go to Portillo and begin

All contents © Copyright 2013 Swift 08/29/2013

free-skiing on Sunday.

Vonn was working out Wednesday at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail with her trainer, Martin Hager, of Red Bull. She said her repaired knee feels great and tests show that it is 98 percent as strong as her left knee.

“I obviously missed that first training camp in New Zealand, but I feel like I’m right where I need to be and hopefully the training on snow goes just as well,” Vonn said.

“From a physical standpoint, I’m in great shape.”

The scar from the procedure was barely visible as Vonn went through balance, stretching and core exercises with Hager.

“We are happy with her progress,” Hager said, who has been working out with Vonn five to six

days per week, three to four hours per day. “Looking good for starting skiing.”

“

I obviously missed that first training camp in New Zealand, but I feel like I’m right where I need to be and hopefully the training on snow goes just as well.”

— Lindsey Vonn

U.S. Olympic skier

RETURN FOR BEAVER CREEK?

In Portillo, Vonn will start with some easy free-skiing and, if the knee responds well, increase volume and intensity.

“Everything I see about her is

that she is so determined to get back out there,” Sterett said. “She doesn’t just want to ski — she wants to start winning. Physically, it’s going at least as well as we could have hoped.”

The 28-year-old Vonn is aiming to return to racing at the women’s Birds of Prey races in Beaver Creek Nov. 29-Dec. 1, where racers will compete on the new women’s downhill course that has been built for the 2015 World Championships. For this season, above all, her sights are set on the Olympics in February in Sochi, Russia. She will be aiming to peak then.

“Of course I want to win in Beaver Creek, that’s my goal, but the main goal for the season is

VONN, A27

September 23, 2013 12:27 am / Powered by TECNAVIA

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The Vail Daily

| Thursday, August 29, 2013 | A27

VONN

From page A26 definitely the Olympics,” she said. “So if I don’t start off really well, I’m not going to be that worried about it because I really want to build into it and really be ready for the Olympics.”

‘I’M HAPPY’

Vonn’s relationship with Tiger Woods has brought her a new level of fame and scrutiny. They landed on the cover of celebrity magazines when they publicly announced their relationship in March. Vonn has attended many of Woods’ tournaments for the past several months. She said she’s been struck by how long the tournaments take.

“It’s like a marathon,” she said. “I’m like a sprinter, and he’s a marathon runner. ... Four days and every single shot is important.”

She said she doesn’t read celebrity magazines, and she doesn’t care what they say about her.

“I think that’s one thing I’ve learned from Tiger is to have thicker skin, to be mentally tougher,” Vonn said. “I don’t feel like I’m any different. I don’t feel like I’m more famous now because I date Tiger. I don’t think that at all. I don’t read any of that stuff. It doesn’t bother me because I don’t really care.

What I care about is that I’m happy and I’m around people that I love and love me.

That’s what’s important.”

Vonn said she is aiming to start training in Colorado as soon as there’s snow to ski on.

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Lindsey Vonn works out Wednesday at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail with her trainer, Martin Hager, of Red Bull.

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“Whenever the first resort opens here, I’ll be here,” Vonn said. “I would much rather be here than going back over to Europe, especially because I’m not doing Soelden (World Cup races in October). The media there is crazy. I’d rather stay at home.”

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September 23, 2013 12:27 am / Powered by TECNAVIA

USA Double Win at NZ Slalom by USSA

2013-08-21 08:16

David Chodounsky celebrates victory in the Audi New Zealand Winter Games slalom with Akira Sasaki of Japan in second and Slovakia's Adam Zampa third (Getty Images/Hannah Johnston) CORONET PEAK, New Zealand (Aug. 21) - Slalom ace David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) and rising star Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) combined for a U.S. Ski Team victory sweep of the Audi New Zealand Winter Games slalom Tuesday at Coronet Peak.

Each race featured a deep field of Audi FIS Alpine World Cup athletes as nations flocked to New Zealand for summer training camps. The win adds to a streak of summer success for Chodounsky, who tabbed two other wins and a pair of second place finishes the prior week at FIS races held in Australia. For Moltzan, the win marked the first major race victory of her career. The slalom concluded alpine competition at the Audi New Zealand Winter Games.

HIGHLIGHTS    



David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) and Paula Moltzan (Lakeville MN) won a slalom to close alpine competition at the Audi New Zealand Winter Games.

It was Chodounsky's third victory and fifth podium in the last two weeks after winning a pair of FIS races and posting two other podiums in Australia.

For Moltzan, who also had an win and another podium in FIS races the week prior at Coronet Peak, the win marked the first Continental Cup victory of her career.

Japan's Akira Sasaki was second, .08 behind Chodousky with Adam Zampa of Slovakia in third. Colby Granstrom (Lake Stevens, WA) was fifth for another U.S. top 10.

Switzerland's Michelle Gisin was second in the women's race ahead of Megan

USA Double Win at NZ Slalom  

McJames, who narrowly missed the podium with fourth in the Winter Games giant slalom on Monday.

The U.S. Ski Team has been training in New Zealand since early August.

The Audi FIS Alpine World Cup opens Oct. 26-27 with a pair of giant slalom races in Soelden, Austria - the U.S. Ski Team's Official European Training Base.

The races mark the start of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games qualifying period for alpine.

QUOTES David Chodounsky It's proving to be a great summer. I am on a roll. The first run got quite rough but the second held up well and although I made a little mistake I am pleased with the result.

Paula Moltzan The second run was very bumpy but I just kept going. This is a very exciting result in my career.

Minturn Breaks Ground on Fitness Center-Vail Daily-August 20, 2013

MINTURN — The town broke ground on a multi-million dollar fitness center at Maloit Park Monday amid the applause of 80 to 100 excited stakeholders.

And despite the fact that World-Cup athletes will make use of the facility, stakeholders in the new Minturn Fitness Center project include anyone and everyone, as the high-level facility will be open to the general public.

“Imagine it like an regular, open-door rec center, only about as state-of-the-art as you can get,” said John Cole, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail’s human performance director.

If everything goes to plan, the new fitness center will be open in about eight months, a testament to how smoothly the partnership between Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and the town of Minturn — which made the idea a reality — has went thus far.

“It started as the school district, the town and even Battle Mountain at one point, but most recently the partnership has been between SSCV and Minturn, and I think everybody’s very pleased how well we’ve been able to work together to make it happen,” said Jim White, Minturn’s town manager.

Minturn and Ski and Snowboard Club Vail are each contributing $1 million toward the project, with Minturn’s portion coming from funds that had been locked up in escrow dating back to the Battle Mountain development project of 2007.

“When we secured some of those funds, we decided one of the things we wanted to go through with was a fitness center,” White said. “Thanks to the partnership with SSCV, it will be one of the biggest projects the town has ever seen.”

Functional use of space Cole says he’s learned a lot about wise use of space in his work with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail.

“At our facility in Vail, we’re moving 200 kids per day through an 800-square-foot space,” he said.

The new Minturn Fitness Center will be comprised of four main areas, two which will be used more by the club and two which will be used more by the general public.

“One area will have regular, public-use type machines, triple trainers, exercise bikes, etc., and then we’ll have another area with specialized equipment like Olympic racks and pneumatic machines that are more complex in the way that they’re utilized,” Cole said. “But there will be flow between the areas. If you’re a member of the public and you want to walk over and use an Olympic rack, walk over and take it if it’s empty. And the same goes for our athletes — if they want to go use one of the exercise bikes in the other area and there’s no one on it, they may hop on.”

The other half of the facility will be divided between a movement studio where the public will have program options like yoga and Pilates, and a lab, where trainers and athletes will be able to study biomechanics and motion.

“Having non-delineated space allows for freedom of movement in the facility,” said Cole. “It’s a really open floor plan, which is what a lot of rec centers in the valley and even private membership gyms have an issue with is they don’t have as much open space.”

Clark Takes Pipe Win at Burton High Fives

By USSA 2012-08-18 15:39 Kelly Clark soars to first in her fist halfpipe competition of the season. (Carin Yates/USSA) WANAKA, New Zealand (Aug. 18) – Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) started her season off on top of the podium at the Burton High Fives, the first halfpipe competition of the season. Kaitlyn Farrington (Bellevue, WA) rode strong and took third. The contest was set up in a jam style format with a one-hour window for riders to get their best run scored. U.S. Snowboarding teammate Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA) bounced back from a 2012 season riddled with injuries to land third in a tough field of men.

HIGHLIGHTS • Kelly Clark took first at the invitational Burton High Fives halfpipe event at Snow Park, New Zealand.

• Clark’s scorching second run of a 94.60 gave her the win with a frontside 900, backside 540, front 700, cab 700 to a stalefish.

• It was a unique competition set up in a jam format that allowed for a one-hour time frame for riders to get their best runs in.

• Greg Bretz came in third with a solid run of a frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 nose, front 900 lein, back 900 tail to a frontside 1080 double cork. He scored an 88.60.

• For the women, Spain’s Queralt Castellet took second and Kaitlyn Farrignton was in third. For the men Japan’s Ayumu Hirano took first and fellow countryman Ryo Aono came in second.

• Next up is the FIS World Cup Aug. 25-26 at nearby Cardrona. It will be the first competition of the 2014 Olympic qualifying period.

QUOTES Kelly Clark The girls rode really great today and Queralt [Castellet] and I were run for run throughout. But in the end I was really happy about my riding and it was so much fun to be putting down 9’s and 10’s in the summertime.

Redemption for Logan in Opener Win by USSA

2013-08-16 23:42

Devin Logan stands atop the podium winning the Audi FIS World Cup opener in Cardrona, New Zealand on a big day for the USA. (U.S. Freeskiing/Mike Jankowski)

CARDRONA, New Zealand (Aug. 17) - U.S. Freeskiing athlete Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) returned to the site of her season-ending injury a year ago to pickup a win in the Audi FIS World Cup freeskiing opener in the Cardrona halfpipe. The USA took four of six podiums with Angeli VanLaanen (Salt Lake City) second in the women's halfpipe while Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO) and Taylor Seaton (Avon, CO) went two-three in the men's. Antti Jussi-Kemppainen of Finland won the men's pipe. It was the opening World Cup of the 2014 Olympic season. While not a part of the actual team selection process, the event helped to solidify the already strong U.S. quota position for Sochi in halfpipe. The tour remains in Cardrona for the slopestyle opener next weekend.

HIGHLIGHTS 

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Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) won the day at the New Zealand Winter Games to open the 2014 Audi FIS World Cup season, taking the halfpipe finals with a well executed run and consistently good amplitude.

Logan won at the same site where a year ago she sustained a season-ending injury training for slopestyle.

After leading in the elimination round, Angeli Vanlaanen (Salt Lake City) missed a couple grabs in the finals and small deductions landed her in second place.

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Under difficult weather conditions, Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO) put down a difficult and well executed run in the fashion of a seasoned veteran. Taylor Seaton (Avon, CO) was third.

Blunck, who graduated from Rookie Team last year to Pro Team this year, matched his career best second equalling his upset finish last season in the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix World Cup in Copper Mountain, CO. U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Team members Alex Ferreira (Aspen, CO) and Annalisa Drew (Andover, MA) were fifth for career bests.

Weather forced a one run finals for both men and women due to adverse conditions.

The tour remains in Cardrona for next weekend's slopestyle World Cup. The strong U.S. finishes help solidify an already strong Olympic quota position for the USA in halfpipe skiing.

Finals Runs Devin Logan: Left 540 tail grab, left ally-oop mute grab, mute grab, right flare safety grab, left 720 safety grab, switch left ally-oop 360 Angeli VanLaanen: left 540 mute grab, right 540, left 720 safety grab, switch right 360, mute grab, left ally-oop 360 safety grab Aaron Blunck: right 900 tail grab, left 1080 tail grab, switch right 720 mute grab, right ally-oop flatspin 540 critical grab, right 720 tail grab, switch left 540 Japan grab QUOTES Devin Logan This was the first comp back since my injury and couldn't ask for anything better. The weather wasn't the greatest and they only took our first run so it was difficult for everyone. But that's how the sport goes. I guess today's my day - I'm feeling pumped.

Mike Jankowski, Head Coach Devin had an amazing run and is charging hard into the season. So happy for Devin to come back into her first contest and earn the win after all the long hard days of recovery and rehab this past year.

Eagle-Vail’s Mikaela Shiffrin juggling busy summer schedule-Vail Daily-July 22, 2013

Geoff Mintz | Special to the Daily World Cup slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin, right, of EagleVail, was in town last week, staying busy with interviews, including one with Olympic gold medalist and former World Cup skier Picabo Street, left.   

AVON — Crowned world champion of Schladming, VIP Snow Queen of Zagreb and even Snow Space Princess of Flachau, Mikaela Shiffrin has been accumulating so many trophies and racewinning gifts that she’s begun asking friends and family to hold on to many of them.

But Shiffrin’s most cherished prize of all, the 2013 World Cup slalom globe — which celebrates her season-long title in that discipline and come-from-behind victory over Tina Maze — makes its home in Eagle-Vail.

The 18-year-old passed through town last week as part of a busy summer schedule that has included stays on the East Coast and in Park City, Utah. Jaunts to New Zealand and Chile for offseason training will consume most of the next couple months for Shiffrin.

In Avon last week, Shiffrin and her mother Eileen sat in for an interview with Fox Sports conducted by gold medalist Picabo Street, one of the many pre-Olympic media obligations the rising star has had to fulfill this offseason.

“It’s been good, really busy,” Shiffrin said. “We’ve been doing lots of media stuff, and I’ve been taking German since right after I graduated (high school). We went to visit family in the East before we came back to Vail. Then, I had a week at home before I went out to Park City for some training. ... So it’s been really busy, but I feel like I’m almost starting to get into a rhythm: Wake up. Answer some questions. Do some German. Answer some more questions. Work out.

Go to bed.”

Graduation Shiffrin earned a high school diploma earlier this summer from Burke Mountain Academy, a race-specific boarding school in northern Vermont. While the World Cup has almost entirely pulled her away from campus the past couple years, Shiffrin has maintained strong ties to the “Burkie” community.

“It was really fun. Burke graduation is a really cool experience. It’s always a small graduating class, so they do it a little differently,” she said.

After another quick trip to Park City, Shiffrin will depart for New Zealand next week. It’s been eight weeks since she was last on snow, which might as well be an eternity for the Olympic hopeful who won’t venture away from the ski hill for very long between now and the end of the winter.

Focus on GS On the docket this offseason is to further dial in the new GS skis — which underwent new sidecut regulations in 2012 — and lay the groundwork for even more success in that discipline.

By the numbers, Shiffrin was the best slalom skier in the world last winter, but with the fastest second-run GS times at a couple different stops, the young gun could be poised to make a name for herself in the second technical discipline.

“I’m going to try to dial in my GS a little more,” Shiffrin said. “I know there’s some new stuff going on with Atomic GS skis, and they’re really excited about being able to try out the new stuff. With the (2012) changes in the GS skis, everyone is just in a race to find out what works best.

“My GS is really starting to take off, and I’m making some huge improvements, figuring some stuff out with equipment, how my boots and skis work together to make it more user-friendly.

I’ve been having a lot of fun with it.”

At Beaver Creek in early April, Shiffrin strapped on downhill boards for the first time in her life to train nearly full-length speed along with the elite U.S. speed team on the new women’s 2015 World Championship course, which runs parallel to the men’s Birds of Prey track. At the time, the tech specialist said she might, this season, begin to incorporate into her schedule a couple super combineds (which consist of one run of downhill or super-G and one run of slalom). But upon further consideration, Shiffrin will again stick to GS and slalom this winter.

“I’m starting to figure out, especially the past few weeks, I’ve been really busy,” Shiffrin said.

“I’ve been thinking about speed, but now it’s more for training and getting used to going fast — and it’s also helping me with my GS. But otherwise, I’m going to focus on tech and try to keep it simple this year. I’ll dabble in speed over the next few years.”