Wednesday, March 31, 2004

On fire at Angel Fire

Silver for Scarlet Caldwell

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It was a great week of snowboard competition for 1,118 riders at the USASA National Championships staged March 23-27 at steamy warm Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico.

Nine Sun Valley Snowboard Teamers traveled with coaches A.J. Grabos, Jacob Tyler and Ciam Parten. Head coach Andy Gilbert said, "Half of our travel team qualified for nationals, which is pretty good."

Over five days, the riders took turns in five events—halfpipe, slopestyle, boardercross, dual giant slalom and dual SL.

Sun Valley posted impressive results, none better than medal-winning efforts by Scarlet Caldwell and Spencer Cordovano at the national event.

Community School junior Caldwell, 16, earned the silver medal in boardercross in the Junior Women 16-17 class Wednesday, behind winner Elan Whitney of Heavenly, Ca. Caldwell was fifth in halfpipe.

Cordovano captured the bronze in slalom for the Youth Men 14-15 class Thursday.

Five of the Sun Valley riders made the grade in the overall rankings, with Cordovano finishing sixth in Alpine Overall.

Jens Peterson and Bobby Flanigan placed 12th and 14th in Freestyle Overall for the Junior Men. "That’s a tough group," said Gilbert. "Jens and Bobby were 10th and 11th in halfpipe."

Here’s a breakdown of what the Sun Valley riders did over the week:

Junior Men 16-17 (63 riders): Jens Peterson 10th in halfpipe, 35th in slopestyle, 12th in Freestyle Overall; Bobby Flanigan 11th in halfpipe, 40th in slopestyle, 14th in Freestyle Overall.

Junior Women 16-17 (28 riders): Scarlet Caldwell 5th in halfpipe, 2nd in boardercross.

Youth Men 14-15 (83 riders): Spencer Cordovano 15th in halfpipe, 7th in boardercross, 17th giant slalom, 3rd slalom, 6th Alpine Overall;

Jeremy Black 36th in halfpipe, 26th in boardercross; Austen Butler 29th in boardercross, 53rd in slopestyle, 28th giant slalom, 24th slalom, 27th in Alpine Overall; Sidney Parkhill 35th in slopestyle.

Youth Women 14-15 (26 riders): Cristina Walsworth 15th in halfpipe, 20th in slopestyle, 17th in Freestyle Overall.

Open Class Men: James Anderson 29th in slopestyle.

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