Junior Nationals: Sprint Race Reports

We reached out to a few on the top finishers in Monday's freestyle sprints at Junior Nationals for some race reports...

Zak Ketterson, 2nd place U18

Skinnyski: Wow, epic sprint final Zak! You looked like you put 110% in the final hill and straight! Almost crashed at the finish, just wiped out or almost faint?

I pushed it a little too hard on the hill before the finish and didn't have a lot left in my legs for the finish; it was hard to stay on my feet in the last little bit. I slowed down a ton and Henry Harmeyer reeled me in. Can't complain though! Henry is a good friend and I'm more of a distance skier anyways.

Sarah Bezdicek, 3rd place U20

Skinnyski: Great job on the podium today Sarah! If you have time, like to hear how that final played out.

Thanks!! The final was pretty intense. On the first down hill I was in 4th and tried to stick with the leaders. I got one girl on the first hill and held my place up the next climb and into the finish. Lungs were burning! Altitude is rough!

Erin Moening, 2nd place U16

When the final arrived, was really heating up, I think it reached mid 60s and I was feeling a little nauseous from the hard races, the altitude and the heat. My final had 4 Inter-mountain team girls, a Far West girl and me! I went out slow, like I had in the earlier heats, but this time with my super fast skis I rocketed into 3rd place on the beginning downhill stretch. I stayed in around 3rd all the way up until the last steep uphill. I was drafting off of the girl in second and at the top of the last hill, about 200 meters from the finish, I started sprinting and was able to pass 1 and 2. The snow was super slushy and wet, and I was getting super tired. As we got into the finishing lanes, I could see ski tips out of the corner of my eye, but it seemed as I had the lead. I was already scrambling into the finish, head bobbing, arms and legs out of sync, and flailing, so it wasn't a big surprise when I started to start catching the snow in my skis and start tripping towards the finish line.The best I could do was try to stay on my feet until the finish, and I barely missed it. I face planted right on the line and I got passed at the last split second. After I got up, I couldn't stop laughing because even though I was bummed about the finish, I was so happy that I had the chance to put everything on the line, and I owe a huge thanks to my coaches and wax techs. Go Midwest!