Friday, December 29, 2006

Ready, aim, perspire!

Freestylers take their lumps to excel in the bumps


By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

For members of the Sun Valley Freestyle Team the winter season starts with a bang, not a whimper.

On snow locally since just Thanksgiving, four team members competed last week at the U.S. Freestyle Selections against top-flight competitors from the U.S. and Canada. At stake are 32 berths (16 men/16 women) on the NorAm circuit.

"The competition is fierce," said Sun Valley Freestyle Director John Zuck. "The U.S. Team is here and they said the way kids are skiing it might as well be a World Cup."

Ross Falcone, 18, who finished 11th in aerials at the 2006 Sprint U.S. Freestyle Championships last March is racing in Utah. So are teammates Lauren Phillips and Katie Fieguth.

Kurtis Fieguth, who also qualified for Nationals last year, is spending a post-grad year with the Sun Valley team and Zuck said he would like to see both Falcone and Fieguth return to the national arena.

Nic Hanscom, 22, returns to the fold in the dual role of coach and competitor. Hanscom is a member of the U.S. Development team and Zuck said he has what it takes to be a world-class competitor.

"He is basically one of the top five guys not on the U.S. team. He's a very strong skier and has really good air," Zuck said. "It's great to have him around to mentor the younger kids."

And there are plenty of bumpers around to set an example for. The Sun Valley competitive team, coached by Andy Ware, Tom Kennedy and Zuck, boasts 21 team members ranging in age from 11-19.

"Last year we took 12 people to Junior Olympics--six girls and six boys. It was a good accomplishment. This year our goal is to return everyone," Zuck said.

A dozen skiers marked the largest contingent Sun Valley has sent to JO's at one time. And the kids performed well.

Kurtis Fieguth finished second in combined, Ross Falcone was third, Katie Fieguth fourth and North Parker sixth. Age class winners were North Parker and Zana Davey in aerials, Aunika Phillips in halfpipe.

Also qualifying and competing at JO's were Austin Bourret, Austin Moses, McClain Porter, Kali Phillips, Lauren Phillips and McKeanna Collins, a talented athlete who has since left the team to concentrate on swimming.

This winter's Prep Team features six racers and is headed up by Hanscom.

Jeff Page, Debbie Page and SVSEF alumna Erin Resko head up with Devo Team with 22 members, although Zuck said all the coaches mix it up and ski with the various groups throughout the season.

Little rippers

World-class pluck and athleticism are what it takes to be a successful freestyle skier, as well as a fearlessness to fling yourself off a jump or tackle a mogul course with bumps bigger than you are. Zuck said his team members have that in spades.

"We have some little rippers coming up," he said, "By the time they are juniors or seniors they are at the top of their game or they quit. These guys all have it."

Sun Valley competes in the Intermountain Division and will also combine with the Northern Division at some events, given team members more challenging and diverse competition. The race schedule spans nine weekends, including a stop in Sun Valley, Jan. 26-28.

Unlike alpine racers, freestylers are trying to accumulate points rather than lower them and compete in moguls, dual moguls, aerials, slopestyle and halfpipe.

Racers with the most points will find themselves in Steamboat Springs, Colo. come March, site of the 2007 Junior Olympics, March 5-11. Killington, Vt. will once again host U.S. Nationals, March 19-25.




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