One final kick for Vail Nordic

Click to Enlarge Browse Vail Daily Photos From left, Karlie Moore, Rob Fitz, Kaitlin Zdechlik, Chris Woods, Lauren Zdechlik, Tony Ryerson, Jessica Linder and Sean Woods will be competing at the 2008 USSA Cross Country Junior Olympic Championships this weekend in Alaska. Preston Utley/Vail Daily Get Sports Feeds

Ian Cropp
Vail, CO Colorado
March 6, 2008

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VAIL, Colorado — A state title is a wonderful feather in a Nordic skier’s cap.
But a national title, or at least a top finish, is what for some Ski & Snowboard Club Vail athletes are shooting for next week.

“We’ve done a great job regionally and at the state meet, but now it’s time to step up and race with the big boys,” said SSCV Nordic director Dan Weiland.

The 2008 United States Ski and Snowboard Association’s Cross Country Junior Olympic Championships kick off Sunday in Anchorage, Alaska, and run through March 15.

Last year, SSCV brought a hefty roster of nine skiers and boasts an equally impressive group of eight skiers this year.

“It’s always good to be consistent,” Weiland said. “If we qualified nine last year and two this year, you could say it was a fluke. But what we’re doing seems to be working, and that’s half the battle — bringing this many athletes. Aspen Valley (Ski Club) is brining one and Steamboat (Springs Winter Sports Club) is bringing six, and these are clubs that have thousands of kids. We have about 400-odd kids.”

Athletes qualify for junior nationals through results in regional races. For several of the eight athletes, this year is a repeat appearance at the national event.

“My first year, I went to Houghton, (Michigan), and that was pretty much my first year skiing competitively,” Vail Mountain’s Karlie Moore said. “I had a breakout race and was eighth in classic, and that’s when I found out I was a classic skier. Last year, I was seventh in classic. Now, we’re really pushing for it.”

Weiland likes the chances of his racers, several of whom won regional club races, high school races or high school titles.

“I think Karlie, Chris (Woods), Sean (Woods) and Tony (Ryerson) have a good shot at making it into the sprint finals,” Weiland said. “The way Sean skied at Solder Hollow, (Utah), he could very easily be in the top five at nationals.”

Sean Woods won a regional sprint race at Solider Hollow. Along with Woods brothers, Ryerson and Moore, Kaitlin Zdechlik, Lauren Zdechlik and Rob Fitz — all of whom are Vail Mountain students — are heading to junior nationals. Vail Christian’s Jessica Linder will be returning to junior nationals again this year.

On par?
While Vail Valley and Colorado racers often have an edge at high-altitude races, they may not be afforded such a luxury in Alaska.

“Especially with the sprints, we struggle coming from a higher altitude and going to a lower altitude,” Weiland said. “You definitely see we have better results toward the end of the week, once we can ski in sea level.”

The racers will arrive two days before the competition, hoping to acclimate. After Monday’s sprints, racers have a day off before the mass start classic race.
“Karlie has a shot at the top five, and hopefully, her goal is to be in the top three, and that’s a doable thing,” Weiland said. “Jess has a chance at cracking the top 10 in J1 girls.”

After another day off, the skiers have the individual-start freestyle and finish off with a relay the next day.

All of the racers are coming off a successful state meet two weeks ago.

“We really try to peak around states and basically taper for two weeks,” Weiland said. “Physically, I think we’re in a good place to go fast. It depends on who shows up on that day and who digs the deepest.”

Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.