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Show Other local J.O. competitors flounder in Washington slush by Randy Hanskat While the Junior III Olympics were taking place at Park City last week, two others Olympic competitions, the Junior I (ages 16-18) and Junior II (ages 14-15) were taking place in Washington state. While the Park City racers dominated the JIII Olympics, the other locals didn't fare so well in the rain and the slush of Washington. Of course the toughness of the competition may have had much to do with that. Whereas there are actually three JIII Olympics (one in the West, one in the Rockies, and one in the East), there are only two JII events (West and East), and only a single JI competition for the whole continent. Thus, as the ages increase, so do the levels of competition. Park City's JII entrants were Jere Calmes and Scott Cartier. Their Olympics were held at Mission Ridge, Washington. Both are first year JIIs, meaning they were up against many kids with an extra year of racing experience experi-ence and training. In the downhill on March 13 Calmes finished 50th, while Cartier was 60th. In the second downhill on the following day it was Calmes in 52nd and Cartier in 62nd. March 16 was the giant slalom, and Calmes turned in his best performance, finishing finish-ing 24th. Cartier was 65th. The final event, in the slalom, was held on March 17, but both Park City raters' were victims of a tough course. Coach Oile Iarrson of Rowmark Academy, who was with the two Park City racers, said the course on the second slalom run was the tightest he had ever seen--many racers missed gates, exited the course, and couldn't finish the race. He said Calmes appeared to be headed for a top 10 finish after a fine first run in the slaom, but couldn't handle the second shot. Still, Lar-rson Lar-rson said he was impressed with Calmes and thinks he will be a terror in next year's Junior II Olympics. Park City's JI racers competed at Crystal Mountain, Moun-tain, Washington on a hill described as "very flat" by Park City Ski Team coach Jim Clifford. The snow was(very slushy according to the three Park City entrants, Jason I-awson, Scott Williams, and Trevor Thompson. They said it rained during the competition, competi-tion, making the conditions even worse. ! Poor snow conditions, coupled with the flat terrain at Crystal Mountain, forced the cancellation of the downhill, down-hill, so the JI Olympics consisted of three giant slaloms and three slaloms. W illiams turned in the best single result, a 14th place in one of the slaloms. Then he was 36 th in another slalom, and 60th in one of the giant slaloms. He didn't finish the other three races. Lawson finished three races. He took two 34 th places in giant slalom, and a 37 th in slalom. Thompson had a 52nd and a 60 th in giant slalom, and a 32 nd and 47 th in slalom. Clifford said none of the three was happy with his results. "They're just glad to be home and out of the rain," Clifford said. The next races for the JIs will be April 14 and 15 at Snowbird in the Mother Karen's Sport Stalker Cup. For the JIIs it will be this weekend at Snowbird in the Tribune Classic. |