Coach Andy Gilbert said the theme for the Sun Valley Snowboard Team at this week's USASA National Championships is "things to come."
But for some riders, like the precocious Chase Josey, it's more like "the future is now."
The 11-year old Josey won the Menehune Boys slalom race Wednesday at Northstar at Tahoe. He beat the field of 48 by almost three seconds.
It was the second podium finish for Josey in two days. Tuesday, the Brown Bomber scored 84.3 points in slopestyle to finish second to Ben Ferguson of Bend, Ore., who won with 89.0. Sun Valley's Ryan Roemer (38.6) was 40th.
Gilbert said he thought Josey, who was the only competitor to throw and land a 900, should have been the winner "hands down." The coach said, "It's a subjective sport, though. What can you do?"
Sun Valley's Heather Black finished fifth in the Junior Women's slopestyle Wednesday. Gilbert called the performance "impressive."
"Heather is not a morning person and she showed up today. She rode like I have not seen her ride all year," Gilbert said.
Also in slopestyle, Colton Jones garnered a 26th place in the Youth Men's class.
In slalom, Sun Valley alum Spencer Cordovano, now a freshman at Sierra Nevada College, sped to fourth place in the Open Men's class. Peter Driscoll (Junior Men) was 13th in giant slalom and 20th in slalom. Nick Shutz (Jam's Men) posted 57 points to take 12th in halfpipe.
"The kids are going a little bit beyond the normal contest runs and showing what is possible," Gilbert said. "It's going really, really good."
Gilbert said they miss Kenny Ballou, who broke his collarbone the week before nationals. Ballou was ranked #1 in halfpipe for Youth Men.
