Complete Review - 2010 US Freestyle Selections
URTUR - 2010 US Freestyle SelectionsDecember 19-22, 2010 - Steamboat, CO
Ladies and Men's Moguls
Event in Review.
Sunday, December 19th, 2010 -
Ladies Moguls:
First Place - PARKS, Nicole - AUS
Second Place - STOLTZNER, Lane - USA
Third Place - COX, Britteny - AUS
Men's Moguls:
First Place - WILSON, Bradley - USA
Second Place - DYER, Ryan - USA
Third Place - TEMPEL, Cody - USA
Press Release: SOURCE USSA - STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (Dec. 19) - Brad Wilson (Butte, MT) took the top spot Sunday in a NorAm (URTUR-Correction: US Freestyle Selections is not a NorAm Event) in Steamboat Springs... Lane Stoltzner (Steamboat Springs, CO) was the top U.S. woman with second. U.S. Selections is an opportunity for U.S. skiers to earn a berth on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team or a quota spot in the North American World Cups this January. "I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m ecstatic, a lot of hard training went into it." said Wilson of his winning run. Wilson, the younger brother of Olympic bronze medalist Bryon, has been training nonstop, traveling to Australia and Switzerland earlier this year to prepare for this event. He is the former Junior Olympic Champion. "He performed extremely well in adverse conditions.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù explained Director of Wasatch Freestyle Jon O?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢Brien, who is Wilson?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s coach. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìHe was very smart in navigating a course that took out so many skiers today due to weather conditions." The weather played a factor in Sunday?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s race. The course experienced a mix of snow and rain throughout the day providing ever-changing conditions. Wilson was joined on the podium by Ryan Dyer (Steamboat Springs, CO) in second and Cody Tempel (Missoula, MT) third. Stoltzner was the lone female U.S. skier on the podium in second, behind Australia's Nicole Parks. Like Wilson, Stoltzner has been training hard in hopes of earning a spot on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. She traveled to Australia in August and Switzerland in October to train prior to U.S. Selections. "It feels really good!" beamed Stoltzner after her podium finish. "I was excited to be skiing my home course, the first run was awesome conditions. Brittany Loweree (Point Lookout, NY) was the just ouside the podium in fourth.
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010 -
Ladies Moguls:
First Place - SNYDERMAN, Kayla - USA
Second Place - LOWEREE, Brittany - USA
Third Place - LAWSON, Alyssa - USA
Men's Moguls:
First Place - ZEMBA, Bryan - USA
Second Place - PANTHER, Jay - USA
Third Place - WATKINS, Zak - USA
Press Release:
SOURCE USSA - STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (Dec. 21) ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú After two days of U.S. Selections competition, Brittnay Loweree (Steamboat Springs, CO), Ryan Dyer (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Jay Panther (Park City, UT), have been named to the 2011 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. Loweree and Dyer led the U.S. Selection competition series at Steamboat Springs. Kayla Snyderman (Winchester, VT), who is making her competition debut after a sidelining injury last season, and Panther were second overall. The newly named U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athletes have earned a start at the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid this January. "The U.S. Selection event is probably the hardest of the year," said Head Coach Scott Rawles. "This is their one big shot to open the door. It is really a make or break event." Snyderman, who is already a member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, used the event to prove she is back in form and ready for the World Cup stage. Snyderman finished eighth on day one and stormed the course, finishing first in Tuesday?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s competition. "She is on her path to recovery," said Freestyle Program Director Todd Schirman. "This is what she needed as she is getting prepared for the World Cup." "It feels awesome, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m extremely happy,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù said Loweree after earning her spot on the Team. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìMy day went really well, consistent." Loweree qualified for the finals in second and finished second Tuesday behind Snyderman. "Going into the competition, I tried not to think about it too much," Loweree said about the Team spot at stake. "I knew if I just skied the way I have been skiing then everything would fall into place." Loweree?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s tricks consisted of a heli off the top jump and a back lay off the bottom jump. On the men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s side, Dyer showed real consistency over the two days of competition, which earned him the top spot overall. Dyer?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s run consisted of a back full off the first jump and a cork 7 off the bottom hit. Combine solid air with a good time and Dyer landed in fifth place on day two. "I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve worked for this since I was seven, this is huge," exclaimed a very happy Dyer. Panther?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s morning almost didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t happen. His equipment was missing when it was time for qualifying rounds. He was able to track down his skis, but his poles had run off. Borrowing his coaches poles, Panther raced down the course qualifying for finals, breaking the poles along the way. "I qualified in 11th, so in my second run there really wasn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t much to lose. I skied fast and clean and the judges rewarded that." said Panther, who had to go back to his coach and borrow a second pair of poles for the finals. Panther finished second on the day, which was enough to finish second overall and snag the final spot on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. The Team is anticipating to issue a fourth World Cup start to Alyssa Lawson (Boulder, CO) who finished third overall since Snyderman is already a member of the Team with a World Cup spot. Tuesday's U.S. Selection winners were Bryan Zemba (Bridgewater Corners, VT) and Snyderman.
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010 -
Ladies Dual Moguls:
First Place - COX, Britteny - AUS
Second Place - LAWSON, Alyssa - USA
Third Place - DiGRAVIO, Alison - USA
Men's Moguls:
First Place - WATKINS, Zak - USA
Second Place - ZEMBA, Bryan - USA
Third Place - WILSON, Bradley - USA
Press Release:
SOURCE USSA - STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (Dec. 22) ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Zak Watkins (Telluride, CO) and Australia's Britteny Cox won the dual moguls competition. Wednesday's competition concluded the U.S. Selections event in Steamboat Springs. Watkins bested Tuesday?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s mogul winner Byran Zemba (Bridgewater Corners, VT) to earn the top spot. Brad Wilson (Butte, MT) finished third. Wilson was Monday's moguls winner. For the ladies, Cox beat Alyssa Lawson (Boulder, CO) in the finals. Alison Digravio (Farmington, ME) won the consolation finals to take third on the podium.