Today was GS day and the nice thing about it is it has a later start so Whitney could sleep in a bit and meet Chad at 8:30. The field was small, 12 registered but only 10 showed up to race. The top racers use hard boots and alpine race boards, which are different than Whitney's race board. Since Whitney isn't that serious about racing GS she's not willing to invest in a set of board, boots, bindings for GS.
Usually the GS races she's done have been two timed runs down the same course, fastest wins. This was different and I think they said it was World Cup format. This was parallel GS, which means that there's a blue course and a red course next to each other. One reason they don't do parallel races more often is slope space to set up two courses. A lot of resorts either don't have a wide enough slope to set a good parallel course or they don't want to close off that much terrain to the general public for most of a day for a race. So for this race they paired up the riders for the first two runs; each rider had one run on each course and it was against the clock, not the other rider. The riders were then ranked by combined times and Whitney was seventh, which was a pretty good spot. The six riders ahead of her all had FIS points, meaning they've been doing some sort of FIS sanctioned racing, so being seventh was good. She actually wasn't all that far behind the sixth place rider, .28 second, which is a lot in GS but not. I'm not 100% sure how it worked after the two timed runs but I think they took the top 8 riders, 1st vs. 8th, 2nd vs. 7th, etc. I thought it was a one run, first one down moves on, second one is out but Whitney said they had two runs so I'm not sure. The funniest thing is that the top ranked rider today is my age and that's who Whitney ended up riding against; she was the winner today.
Most important for today was that Whitney had fun. This was a race she doesn't really practice for, although she did more this year than she has in the past. It's an event she's done because her college asked her to but she likely wouldn't have otherwise. She's really good at it but it's not her love. A seventh place finish is something to be proud of.
Monday, April 1, 2019
USASA Nationals - Boardercross Day
Boardercross is the reason we come out to Nationals, it's Whitney's love. This year the field was smaller than usual, only 16 competitors. The good news is that they didn't cut anyone and took everyone to brackets and actually on race day there were only 14 riders.
The format at Nationals is a bit different, at least for what Whitney is used to in USASA races. They do time trials for seeding and yesterday they did two timed runs, faster run was the one they used for seeding. Whitney was faster on her first run but most everyone else was faster on their second run; after the first run she was in 8th but after the second she ended up being seeded 10th. From what I got she was riding really well, she was just a hair behind getting out of the start and just couldn't catch the other two girls in her heat and ended in third place so didn't make it to the next race. The good thing was that she got to race this year, some years she hasn't made it out of time trials. A bummer she didn't go farther since she's been riding really well. That's the way things go with bx though.
She had a good time, which is most important, and has been enjoying being coached by Chad again.
Today is GS day. The field is even smaller and she decided to do this kind of on a whim, we'll see how the day goes.
The format at Nationals is a bit different, at least for what Whitney is used to in USASA races. They do time trials for seeding and yesterday they did two timed runs, faster run was the one they used for seeding. Whitney was faster on her first run but most everyone else was faster on their second run; after the first run she was in 8th but after the second she ended up being seeded 10th. From what I got she was riding really well, she was just a hair behind getting out of the start and just couldn't catch the other two girls in her heat and ended in third place so didn't make it to the next race. The good thing was that she got to race this year, some years she hasn't made it out of time trials. A bummer she didn't go farther since she's been riding really well. That's the way things go with bx though.
She had a good time, which is most important, and has been enjoying being coached by Chad again.
Today is GS day. The field is even smaller and she decided to do this kind of on a whim, we'll see how the day goes.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
USASA Nationals - Practice Days
Whitney and I made it to Colorado on Thursday afternoon. The drive up to Copper from the airport was good and I'm glad we came on Thursday. Quite a few of the Massanutten families came Friday, a day we had snow off and on all day, some of it quite heave and it caused a mess with the traffic. I'm hoping the snow moves on out of here before Tuesday so we have clear driving back down to Denver.
Friday Whitney got checked in with USASA and met up with Chad. The open class/FIS riders had practice time from 10-2 on the BX course and they were up there for a good part of it. Chad said that this course was totally in Whitney's wheelhouse, there's just a few things she needs work on. It's not like past years where the start was on the crazy side and they spent a ton of time working on that. They finished their practice on course and spent some time fun riding. Chad said this morning that he's kind of sore, not used to all the riding; Whitney is a bit sore from falling on her tailbone yesterday so he's in good company.
Today they met up for more practice. The GS course is open all day and she's got BX practice at 11 this morning. They were going to take a couple of runs on the GS course so she could feel it out then head over for her BX practice time, then probably a few more GS runs.
Friday Whitney got checked in with USASA and met up with Chad. The open class/FIS riders had practice time from 10-2 on the BX course and they were up there for a good part of it. Chad said that this course was totally in Whitney's wheelhouse, there's just a few things she needs work on. It's not like past years where the start was on the crazy side and they spent a ton of time working on that. They finished their practice on course and spent some time fun riding. Chad said this morning that he's kind of sore, not used to all the riding; Whitney is a bit sore from falling on her tailbone yesterday so he's in good company.
Today they met up for more practice. The GS course is open all day and she's got BX practice at 11 this morning. They were going to take a couple of runs on the GS course so she could feel it out then head over for her BX practice time, then probably a few more GS runs.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Headed to Colorado!
We got back from Jackson Hole last Sunday, just long enough to get readjusted to East Coast time, and now it's time for Whitney and I to head back west to Copper, Colorado for USASA Nationals. Heading to Copper is always a fun time. She gets to hang out with friends from Massanutten and ride the BIG mountains. Plus she gets good coaching since one of her coaches from Massanutten has been going out with her and will be again this year.
Usually she only races boardercross but this year because of her class schedule we're staying out for an extra day and she'll also race GS. Should be fun and interesting to see how she does. She races well and I heard that some of the top GS riders will be in Austria so she could end up doing pretty well, which would actually be kind of funny. She only got into GS for her college and she rides her regular race board in her soft boots. All the top riders use a race board and hard boots and yes, it would make her faster but GS isn't her love so she's not willing to invest in a new board/boots (yet).
Whitney files home on Wednesday then we head to Colorado on Thursday. Can't wait to hang out in the snow for one last time this winter and catch up with some friends I don't see often these days. And watch some racing.
Usually she only races boardercross but this year because of her class schedule we're staying out for an extra day and she'll also race GS. Should be fun and interesting to see how she does. She races well and I heard that some of the top GS riders will be in Austria so she could end up doing pretty well, which would actually be kind of funny. She only got into GS for her college and she rides her regular race board in her soft boots. All the top riders use a race board and hard boots and yes, it would make her faster but GS isn't her love so she's not willing to invest in a new board/boots (yet).
Whitney files home on Wednesday then we head to Colorado on Thursday. Can't wait to hang out in the snow for one last time this winter and catch up with some friends I don't see often these days. And watch some racing.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
USCSA Nationals - Wrap Up
Just some random thoughts about the week...
Wow, is this area pretty in winter! We've been out to Yellowstone and the Tetons in the early fall and it's pretty then but the Tetons covered in snow are something to see. Bob and I still want to come out sometime in winter and go to Yellowstone. Bucket list goals.
USCSA puts on a great event. It's all run by volunteers and they work hard to make it good for the athletes. A lot of work goes into making Nationals run smoothly and they do it well. This was the first year they had USCSA swag, tshirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. I wish they'd had it before and I would have gotten something but since Whitney is a senior I don't really need it.
Whitney was so disappointed by not doing better in BX since that's her favorite event. She was riding so well on Wednesday and was ticked off that her board was clipped by two of the other riders in her group. But sometimes boardercross gets the best of you and it did her on Wednesday. She had really, really waned to get the monkey off her back and do better than 4th and beat the Westminster girls but that didn't happen, at least not in BX.
On the other hand, she was super shocked to finish 2nd in slalom and then 1st in GS. She was mostly in disbelief and it took a while for her finishes to sink in. I'm still not sure that they have. She told me on Friday that the week wasn't going like she expected but I think it ended up better than she could have envisioned.
Getting 2nd place, snowboard individual alpine combined (what the heck?) was a surprise, only because she hadn't been thinking about the combined award. They take the results from BX, slalom, and GS and rank the athletes; her 6th, 2nd, 1st place finishes put her in second overall.
Overall it's been an awesome week. The resort was great, the events were well run, she did great and made new friends, Bob and I talked to some parents and event people who were all really nice. This was a great way to wrap up her collegiate career.
Wow, is this area pretty in winter! We've been out to Yellowstone and the Tetons in the early fall and it's pretty then but the Tetons covered in snow are something to see. Bob and I still want to come out sometime in winter and go to Yellowstone. Bucket list goals.
USCSA puts on a great event. It's all run by volunteers and they work hard to make it good for the athletes. A lot of work goes into making Nationals run smoothly and they do it well. This was the first year they had USCSA swag, tshirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. I wish they'd had it before and I would have gotten something but since Whitney is a senior I don't really need it.
Whitney was so disappointed by not doing better in BX since that's her favorite event. She was riding so well on Wednesday and was ticked off that her board was clipped by two of the other riders in her group. But sometimes boardercross gets the best of you and it did her on Wednesday. She had really, really waned to get the monkey off her back and do better than 4th and beat the Westminster girls but that didn't happen, at least not in BX.
On the other hand, she was super shocked to finish 2nd in slalom and then 1st in GS. She was mostly in disbelief and it took a while for her finishes to sink in. I'm still not sure that they have. She told me on Friday that the week wasn't going like she expected but I think it ended up better than she could have envisioned.
Getting 2nd place, snowboard individual alpine combined (what the heck?) was a surprise, only because she hadn't been thinking about the combined award. They take the results from BX, slalom, and GS and rank the athletes; her 6th, 2nd, 1st place finishes put her in second overall.
Overall it's been an awesome week. The resort was great, the events were well run, she did great and made new friends, Bob and I talked to some parents and event people who were all really nice. This was a great way to wrap up her collegiate career.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
USCSA Nationals - Giant Slalom Day
Today was the last day of racing at USCSA Nationals. For snowboarders it meant GS. Whitney was confident in her skills and I'm guessing figured she'd finish in the top 10, even before her slalom finish on Thursday. This was the race event that she likes better and hoped to do well in; slalom is her least favorite of the events she races.
It was dang cold this morning, single digits, when we met up with Connor's parents (he's the other UMF snowboarder out here). All we could do was wait at the bottom of the course. We were actually at the bottom of the corral since at the finish line you couldn't really see far up slope it's so steep. The nice thing was they had the individual times on the scoreboard and we could watch on live timing to see how races were placing. Whitney had a really good first run and finished in second. She said that she was going a bit wide on the top part then got herself together and rode the lower part better. During the break they moved gates around and reset the course. There were 25 girls that finished the first run and they do a "flip-30" where they take the top 30 finishers and start the second run with the slowest finisher from the first run and work their way up which meant that Whitney was second to last to go down.
It was hard for us waiting at the bottom for her to go. When she came down she had a really good time and was in first, but one last racer still had to drop. She was also riding well but at one of the last gates she slipped. From watching her time it looked like Whitney was probably going to win but after the slip, it was for sure. Another surprising finish for Whitney today, crowned USCSA National champion in GS!!
Every day after racing is completed they have the daily awards for the events competed that day. They give out a bunch of swag then the awards. The top 10 get to go up on the podium, places 4-10 get certificates while first, second, and third get medals as well. After Boss Hog had announced the second and third place winners you could already hear the table thumping and cheering starting for Whitney. She's made so many friends and they were all so happy for her. Boss Hog was super excited for her as well. She got a high five from him (and a hug earlier when he was giving out swag to the seniors).
The girl from Virginia has done well.
It was dang cold this morning, single digits, when we met up with Connor's parents (he's the other UMF snowboarder out here). All we could do was wait at the bottom of the course. We were actually at the bottom of the corral since at the finish line you couldn't really see far up slope it's so steep. The nice thing was they had the individual times on the scoreboard and we could watch on live timing to see how races were placing. Whitney had a really good first run and finished in second. She said that she was going a bit wide on the top part then got herself together and rode the lower part better. During the break they moved gates around and reset the course. There were 25 girls that finished the first run and they do a "flip-30" where they take the top 30 finishers and start the second run with the slowest finisher from the first run and work their way up which meant that Whitney was second to last to go down.
It was hard for us waiting at the bottom for her to go. When she came down she had a really good time and was in first, but one last racer still had to drop. She was also riding well but at one of the last gates she slipped. From watching her time it looked like Whitney was probably going to win but after the slip, it was for sure. Another surprising finish for Whitney today, crowned USCSA National champion in GS!!
Every day after racing is completed they have the daily awards for the events competed that day. They give out a bunch of swag then the awards. The top 10 get to go up on the podium, places 4-10 get certificates while first, second, and third get medals as well. After Boss Hog had announced the second and third place winners you could already hear the table thumping and cheering starting for Whitney. She's made so many friends and they were all so happy for her. Boss Hog was super excited for her as well. She got a high five from him (and a hug earlier when he was giving out swag to the seniors).
The girl from Virginia has done well.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
USCSA Nationals - Slalom Day
What a day today was! Spoiler alert - Whitney finished second!! We didn't see her this morning, she was out early for practice. Bob and I walked down to the other lodge and after looking at where the course was decided we were going back to our room to watch. There was no way to walk up to it and even riding the chair lift would have been difficult. We can actually see the first part of the course from our balcony and we have live timing on the tv so we could see how the girls were running. After the first run Whitney was easily in second place. She had a kind of long break between runs since they run the women first, then the men, reset the course, then women for their second run, then the men again. During her break we walked over to the King's Grill lodge area and sat by the firepit and talked with her. She was excited but surprised to find herself in second, especially since the girl in first wasn't who she expected.
The second run was tough because the course was rutted and icier than it had been in the morning. Many of the riders were slower the second run, including Whitney, but she still had the second fastest time of the run. Bob and I saw her start but had a hard time watching live timing. It was so nerve wracking!! As soon as she finished we went down to the lower lodge to meet up with her. So much excitement! She was truly shocked at how well she did. This was the event that she didn't really care about, well she did but she knew it wasn't her best event and hoped to finish in the top 10 but did not expect to make podium.
Afternoon awards was fun today, although super nerve-wracking for Whitney. They didn't call her event until last so she had to wait through it all. All her teammates were there to cheer her on as well as other UMF parents that are out here. I think she probably had the loudest cheers of the day. She's made lots of friends here, she's been chatting with the kids from the Virginia schools, UVA, JMU, GMU and the NC schools and they all cheered her on as well as her teammates and a few other random people we've met. Even Boss Hog, the emcee for the event was really happy to see her on the podium.
Tomorrow is a day off for the snowboarders. Whitney thinks the coach from JMU is setting gates to practice for the GS event on Saturday so she's going to do some training in the morning then the three of us are going to drive up to the Tetons and see what we can see.
As a side note to the day, when we got up in the morning Bob and I saw a herd of elk in the parking lot of our hotel. They were just hanging out in some empty parking spaces. It looked like there was 8-10 of them, possibly a mother and two babies among them. They moved around a little but just generally were in the same area almost all day. Later in the day I noticed that they had moved on but we saw that they had moved to a small park just down the street. Pretty cool seeing them. I'd still like to see some moose, but it seems you have to be on the Nordic course for that.
The second run was tough because the course was rutted and icier than it had been in the morning. Many of the riders were slower the second run, including Whitney, but she still had the second fastest time of the run. Bob and I saw her start but had a hard time watching live timing. It was so nerve wracking!! As soon as she finished we went down to the lower lodge to meet up with her. So much excitement! She was truly shocked at how well she did. This was the event that she didn't really care about, well she did but she knew it wasn't her best event and hoped to finish in the top 10 but did not expect to make podium.
Afternoon awards was fun today, although super nerve-wracking for Whitney. They didn't call her event until last so she had to wait through it all. All her teammates were there to cheer her on as well as other UMF parents that are out here. I think she probably had the loudest cheers of the day. She's made lots of friends here, she's been chatting with the kids from the Virginia schools, UVA, JMU, GMU and the NC schools and they all cheered her on as well as her teammates and a few other random people we've met. Even Boss Hog, the emcee for the event was really happy to see her on the podium.
Tomorrow is a day off for the snowboarders. Whitney thinks the coach from JMU is setting gates to practice for the GS event on Saturday so she's going to do some training in the morning then the three of us are going to drive up to the Tetons and see what we can see.
As a side note to the day, when we got up in the morning Bob and I saw a herd of elk in the parking lot of our hotel. They were just hanging out in some empty parking spaces. It looked like there was 8-10 of them, possibly a mother and two babies among them. They moved around a little but just generally were in the same area almost all day. Later in the day I noticed that they had moved on but we saw that they had moved to a small park just down the street. Pretty cool seeing them. I'd still like to see some moose, but it seems you have to be on the Nordic course for that.
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