OCR Text |
Show B-3 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, March 28-30, 2007 T SHRED SHORTS No breakthrough this season, but all in all more solid work gold medal and finished fourth in out, finishing 14th in slalom and thing dialed in. One of the most impressive the World Cup slalom standings. 10th in GS. I just didn't have anySpecial to The Denver Post It didn't happen. I finished thing left in the tank. I felt fine things I saw this season was the Editor's Note: Olympic cham- 15th in the slalom standings and physically, but I didn't have the way Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal was able to perform hop in my step I normally do. pion Ted Ligety, the only eighth in giant slalom. I'm going to do a lot of ski under pressure at the World Cup American man to win a medal in I was happy with my improvealpine skiing at the Turin ment in GS and with my progress testing this spring because I want finals and hold off Austria's Olympics, reports regularly dur- in the speed events. To get fourth to be ready for the preseason Benjamin Raich to win the overing the ski season from the World place in the' downhill at the camps in Chile and New Zealand. all title. Cup circuit. Ligety, of Park City, World Cup finals last week was I want to be thinking about my Raich skied well at the finals, Utah, writes with assistance from kind of ridiculous. It was a tailor- skiing then, not my skis. I think finishing second in the super-G, Denver Post sports writer John made hill for somebody like me _ that was a big part of the problem scoring points in the downhill Meyer. more of a high-speed GS than a this season; I spent most of the and winning the slalom, but it real downhill _ but it showed my preparation period figuring out . still wasn't enough. It was pretty my setup after changing ski mind-blowing how well Svindal Lenzerheide, Switzerland _ I had downhill skills arc improving. high hopes coming into this seaAfter the downhill at the brands. It set me back a little, did, and how clutch Raich was. I was super-psyched for son that I would make another finals, I thought for sure I was and I think if I get everything figbreakthrough, the way I did last going to do well in the GS and ured out now, come those first Svindal, a good friend. It's cool to season when I won the Olympic slalom^here, but I just flattened races in October 1*11 have every- see such a good guy win it all. By TED LIGETY Van makes it 12 at national championships Demong adds to storybook season with three titles By PAUL ROBBINS Special to the Record Ski jumper Lindsey Van has no regrets about the air coming out of her season. Van, who has been part of the jumping program at the National Sports Foundation since about 20 minutes after Utah Olympic Park opened in January 1993, returned home Sunday night after sweeping two more gold medals in Steamboat Springs, Colo., during the Nature Valley Ski Jumping Championships over the weekend. That gives her 12 national titles.. It was a pleasant end to a season in which she may have dropped from No. 2 in the women's Continental Cup rankings to No. 3, but the 22-year-old returned after a slow start to some of the best jumping of her career. In the last nine Continental Cup meets, she won three and was a top-three performer in four other competitions; she captured the last meet of the season in Japan. And now it's time to catch her breath. "I'm tired," she said. She'll find the energy somewhere to go alpine skiing during the next little bit, Van said, but for now she's got a date with her couch. "I'm gonna be on the couch, and just hanging out. I'll probably ski a few times this week, but I'm tired," Van said. With Parkite Jessica Jerome recovering from knee surgery, Van had little major competition for the two titles. High school student Avery Ardovino capped a breakthrough season by taking the first-round lead Saturday at Howelsen Hill with a huge jump of 113.5 meters; Van, meanwhile, was testing herself by jumping from the men's start, seven gates lower, meaning she had less speed at takeoff; she went 108 meters.. As she headed back up the hill for her final jump, Coach Larry Stone said she should focus on getting the national championship, so Van should go back to the women's start. She did - and had the longest jump of the round, 111.5 meters, while Ardovino and Alissa Johnson came in at less than 100 meters. Result: Van for the gold medal with 211.7 points; Ardovino was silver medal winner at 189.2 and Johnson took the bronze at 181.8. Sunday, in the normal hill championship at the 100-meter jump - on another mostly wind- BE COOL. LIKE YOUR FRIENDS. Subscribe to the Park Record (435)649-9014 www.parkrecord.com less day, Van was the only athlete I mean, I was sixth, fourth and going past 90 meters (91 and then ninth one day in training with the 92 meters), as she won by more guys. Larry and I wanted to see than 40 points. Brenna Ellis was how I'd do, and then I jumped in silver medalist with Ardovino the first round with them and was seventh [among 45 guys]. capturing the bronze medal. "But Avery had a great first Van had been enjoying downtime in Park City, skiing and jump and he didn't want me to hanging out after returning from give up the gold medal, so he Japan. She figured she had called to me, as I was going back jumped enough and could save a up, and said I should go back to travel day by going to Steamboat the women's start and defend the at week's end. However, 10 days title. It was fun," she said. without jumping began to gnaw With the men's jumping, at her, so she drove over at mid- three-time Olympian Bill week, took her training jumps Demong - a Park City resident with the men, and felt confident since 2002 when the Nordic comenough to start with them. bined residency program was In jumping, the women go uprooted from Steamboat and from a higher start than the men; moved to Park City - swept all lighter than the guys, they usual- three men's titles. He arrived ly need more speed to lay down a Friday night, took one training solid jump. Van began her career jump Saturday morning and easiat Bear Hollow jumping with the ly won both the men's large hill guys simply because she was the and normal hill jumping events only female, so jumping with the plus the Nature Valley U.S. com(ahem) non-females wasn't an bined title competition. issue. She jumped with guys or Johnny Spillane - who grew up she didn't jump. in Steamboat but also moved in "There wasn't another girl '02 "because it was what I needed jumper for a long time, so it was to do if I were going to be 'Best fun to get back to jumping with in the World'" - was silver medalthe guys...although I know some ist across the board with native of them didn't like it," she said... Parkite Brett Camerota taking bronze in the large hill event and from her couch. "I don't look at it as a big deal, the combined. but...well...I'd get 'Oh, you For complete results from jumped at the beginning of the Steamboat: www.sswsc.org round and conditions were better' and stuff like that. Whatever. yjL^ PSA The Park City Lacrosse Organization (PCLO) announces a new website, www.parkcitylax.org. The new site includes information about both junior and youth programs. check out our blogs at: www.parkrecord. com Inventory Clearance Sale! Going out of business March 31st! Every Item in stock (except beer and Red Bull) ^ ' cot END OF SEASON BLOWOUT SALE ALL SNOWBOARD MERCHANDISE FINAL BLOWOUT SALE ALL SKI AND SNOWBOARD MERCHANDISE 40% TO 6 0 % OFF 4O% TO 6 0 % OFF Here at PC Pork and Ride me pride ourselves on our service to you the customer. Staffed by knoujlodgenblc sales stafF some of which are Professional Snowboard Instructors, all with yean of experience, we offer you a service second to none. Located at the foot of the Town Lift at the bottom of Main Street, uio ore your snowboard gateway to the "Greatest Snow on Carth"! We offer on exciting selection of bnrds, boots, bindings, clothing and all the accessories needed to satisfy the needs of the nervous first-timer right through to the hard core. "A Park City tradition since 1978" simply the best retail rentals and service 738 MAINST. • 435.649.8092 435.901.0140 875 Main St. Hours: 8am-7pm Daily KIRKHAM'S EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION OUTDOOR FOOTWEAR FOR ANY ACTIVITY! Multi-Sport feiP* Ultralight Hiking Trail Running (only 60 cents) Household items • Cosmetics • Jewelry Hair accessories • Party supplies • Reading glasses Sunglasses • Pet supplies • Gift wrap • Baby items and Much More. Merrell Moab Ventilator GoLlte® Sun Dragon Super breathable 24 oz. durable light hiker features Air Cushion® midsole and gripping ' Vibram® Multi-Sport™ sole. Men's & Women's. Montrall Namche Incredible combination of tough materials, breathability and high-traction claw outsole. Amazing 10.9 oz. weight. Men's & Women's. Advanced light & supportive design features highly ventifated, abrasion-resistant forefoot, sticky traction sole. Men's & Women's. $75.00 $95.00 $99.95 Hiking & Backpacking Performance Sandals Hybrid Shoes Open every day 8:00 am to 8:00 pm $UPER DOLLAR.. Vasque Switchback Chaco Z / 2 Keen Newport Waterproof leather hiking boot with Vlbram® sole is made for logging serious miles. Great fit, lightweight. Men's & Women's. Best sandals you can buy. Great fit with pullthrough adjustment, Biocentric™ footbed and Vibram® outsole for function and comfort Men's & Women's, Legendary comfort in a shoe that takes you from the trail to water-and bac^again! Cushy fit and lots of adjustability. Men's & Women's. $125.00 $90.00 PARK COT'S Oner COLLAR £ Btw Srou 1890 BONANZA DRIVE in the same plaza as Einstein's Bagels OVER 200 STYLES FOR MEN & WOMEN PERSONAL FITTING • BEST BRANDS $94.95 Kirkham's o u t d o o r p:ro<3.u.ct:s 3125 South State | 801.486.4161 M-F 9:30-9 | Sat 9:30-7 | Sun 11-6, l&al FIRST U T A H |