For the week of December 18 - 23, 2002

Freestyler Cordeau 
gets U.S. Devo nod

Bright futures in the bumps

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A group of Sun Valley freestyle skiers knocked on some bumps and opened a few doors during a U.S. World Cup selection event at Winter Park, Colo. last week.

After three days of racing, 16-year-old Shane Cordeau, an independent racer from Hailey, finished third overall and earned a spot on the U.S. Freestyle Development team.

Cordeau, a sophomore at Hailey’s Wood River High School, is now eligible to race on the NorAm circuit.

The NorAms are a series of international competitions designed to prepare elite athletes for World Cup competition. They are open to all countries, with heavy participation by the US and Canada. Skiers who placed third through 25th at last week’s selection event qualified for NorAm racing.

Cordeau, who celebrated his 16th birthday Monday, trains with his father, Joey Cordeau, a former pro bump skier.

Kylie Douglas, a skier with the Sun Valley Freestyle Team, finished 29th overall and will compete at moguls selection events to be held Dec. 19 and 21 at Winter Park to help fill World Cup quotas.

Teammate Krista Burns placed 20th overall and qualified for racing this week, but a back injury put her on the sidelines, so Douglas got the nod as the first alternate.

In a field of 50 men and 50 women, Christine Cordeau was 35th, Britt VanPaepeghem placed 38th. Nic Hanscom was 43rd on the men's side.

 

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