Junior Nationals: Classical Race Reports

Ian Torchia, 2nd place -- MU20

Conditions for our race were icy and fast but slowed down by the later laps when the temperature rose rapidly. Was comfortably in 1st or 2nd through 10k and pushed it after that and had a gap going into the final downhill but unfortunately fell going around the corner, lost all momentum and was passed by Thomas O'Harra. Seemed to be a trend for my NMU teammates today with Kyle and Kristen falling as well in Lake Placid for NCAAs but it's all good because NMU has a NCAA CHAMPION with Freddy taking the win! One more shot with the relay tomorrow and then we'll call it a season!

Skinnyski: Anything trip you up on that downhill? 

It was a tad icy but I think my legs were just flooded and I didn't corner it very well and ended up on my bum.

Zak Ketterson, 5th place (4th American) -- MU18

Skinnyski: Another tough race today, a lot of laps out there and you guys came down to a sprint out at the end! Can you tell us a little about your race?

I approached the race very conservatively, sitting in 10th or so for the entire race except the final lap and at a point km the 2nd lap when I fell and slipped into the 30s for a bit. My patience paid off as I had a ton of extra energy to spend in the final lap. I made a pretty big move up the biggest hill on the last lap and managed to get a lead on the rest going into the final 1/2K. Going into the finish I was a bit unstable and a couple of guys passed me. I tried to hang on with them into the last 100M but ended up losing some ground in the last bit. I can't complain, as I felt like my tactics were really solid. I probably shouldn't have led into the final downhill but other than that I felt like it was a good race.

Vivian Hett, 2nd place -- FU20

The snow conditions were very tough today but the wax techs were able to get us good kick. I took the first lap easier just to make sure I wouldn't blow up at all. Hannah went very fast from the start and got about a 15 second lead on the chase pack. By the second lap, Emily and I had made some distance on the rest of the group. On the third lap, we caught Hannah but she stuck with us. Finally, on the fourth lap, I tried to make some space on the other girls but couldn't and Emily got away from me on the last long climb. Overall, it was easily one of my favorite races and I had a lot of fun out there.

Also, shout out to my other 2nd place buddies for today: Ian Torchia and Anna Johnson!

Skinnyski: We heard your skis might have finished 2nd twice today!  What can you tell us about that?

Yeah! After my race, everyone was looking for me and said Anna was in need of some last minute klister skis so she borrowed mine. She also had to use my boots because she has NNN bindings. I guess they were some pretty good skis today!

Anna Johnson, 2nd place -- FU16

The race was a little tough mentally today. On the second lap I had a hard time keeping my brain full of positive statements but luckily the coaches were out there to keep that up! The conditions were a little hard to get through. So I raced on Vivian's skis and boots and I am so thankful for her to lend them to me!! I could feel the skis slow down a little as I went through some really wet snow but otherwise the wax techs and coaches hit everything right on! 

Skinnyski: It looked like the gal in front had a good lead above the stadium. You made up a lot of ground in the final straightaway, going from third to almost first: How did you find the energy to still sprint?! How'd that whole finish go?  [ Watch a replay of the finish ]

Umm I'm not exactly sure how I pulled it out. I knew that this was the last individual I had this week as a U16 and it was now or never. I was excited at how well I was actually doing and was thinking whatever happened happened. I'm going to give it my all and not look back. Going up the last hill I could see the top three girls and the coaches were cheering so loud and that gave me some extra energy and my skis going down were super fast. I guess I just felt really good and got some sort of burst of energy!