J2 Nationals: Flowers learns course for DH win

By Published On: March 8th, 2008Comments Off on J2 Nationals: Flowers learns course for DH win

ASPEN, Colo., – "It was the first time any J2 has been on that course," said Kitt Flowers of Aspen's America's Downhill course. "So it was a new course for everybody. Luckily I got to come out a few days early and get on it before the training runs."
    He said the competition at the J2 Junior Olympics was as good as he had expected. "I knew coming in it was going to be tough to win and that everybody was good. It's the best of our age. If you don't give it your all, you’re not going to win."
    He not only won the race, he also wins a trip to U.S Nationals, as all of the J2 winners do, and is anticipating he'll have a tough time making an impact. "I'm still kind of in shock that I'm going to make it there," he said. "I'll be starting pretty far back, so I'll see how much I can move up. Just give it my all and see how I compare to the older guys."
    The additional time spent familiarizing himself with the course may have been just enough of an edge. Flowers got by Michael Ankeny for the downhill Junior Olympic title by about four tenths of a second. Keiffer Christianson got third another .13 behind.

ASPEN, Colo., – "It was the first time any J2 has been on that course," said Kitt Flowers of Aspen's America's Downhill course. "So it was a new course for everybody. Luckily I got to come out a few days early and get on it before the training runs."
    He said the competition at the J2 Junior Olympics was as good as he had expected. "I knew coming in it was going to be tough to win and that everybody was good. It's the best of our age. If you don't give it your all, you’re not going to win."
    He not only won the race, he also wins a trip to U.S Nationals, as all of the J2 winners do, and is anticipating he'll have a tough time making an impact. "I'm still kind of in shock that I'm going to make it there," he said. "I'll be starting pretty far back, so I'll see how much I can move up. Just give it my all and see how I compare to the older guys."
    The additional time spent familiarizing himself with the course may have been just enough of an edge. Flowers got by Michael Ankeny for the downhill Junior Olympic title by about four tenths of a second. Keiffer Christianson got third another .13 behind.
    "And fourth place was right behind me," said Christianson. "It was pretty close all around. There wasn't much room for error on a course like this."
    Ankeny had the most adventurous day of the three, hip checking high on the course, but then had the fortune of being flagged and granted a restart. It made for a longer day, but that made it all the sweeter. Jelly doughnut sweeter.
    "Keefer has been beating me all week, and he's a '92," which didn't sit well with older skier. He suggested a bet of a doughnut, and Christianson took him up on it.
    Getting flagged was undoubtedly a bonus. "About 20 seconds into my run I hip checked, which didn't set me up very well for the second pitch," he said. "So when I saw it (the flag) I wasn't bummed at all. I knew Felicia (Byers the women's DH winner earlier in the day) had been flagged and she won by a second, so I wasn't discouraged."
    By the time he got back to the start for his rerun 40 skiers had run, Flowers had the lead and Christianson, representing a jelly doughnut, was in second.
    Ankeny hails from Minnesota, and hasn't got many miles in on the speed skis, but he doesn't mind speed and figured the course played to his strengths. "This isn't the speediest course," he said, "it's pretty technical, so for guys like me, we had a better chance."
    He, and all the top three skiers broke 70mph in the speed trap at Spring Pitch, and he just snuck by Christianson.
    Now, says Christianson, it's double or nothing.
    The race was run in near ideal conditions. All three podium finishers, as well as the second place tie in the women's race were Rocky/Central division skiers. "We'd like to thank the coaches, the sponsors, our parents and everyone. It's been great," Christianson added.
    And it's just getting underway.

 


J2 National Junior Olympics
Men's Downhill
Aspen, Colo.,
March 7, 2008

1 Kitt FLOWERS USA/91      1:15.44
2 Michael ANKENY USA/91      1:15.80
3 Kieffer CHRISTIANSON USA/92      1:15.93
4 Nick DANIELS USA/91      1:15.98
5 David OWSLEY USA/91      1:16.06
6 Brennan RUBIE USA/91      1:16.07
7 Bryce BENNETT USA/92      1:16.31
8 Michael RADFORD USA/91      1:16.37
9 Jared GOLDBERG USA/91      1:16.42
10 Hunter SCHLEPER USA/91      1:16.50
11 Alex JERRED USA/92      1:16.71
12 Kris HOPKINS USA/91      1:17.06
13 Ian MACOMBER USA/91      1:17.08
14 Sean HORNER USA/91      1:17.18
15 Hig ROBERTS USA/91      1:17.21
16 Keith MOFFAT USA/91      1:17.30
17 Ben MORSE USA/92      1:17.34
18 Dominique GARAND CAN/91      1:17.49
19 Hank SCHULER USA/92      1:17.51
19 Taylor WUNSCH USA/91      1:17.51
21 Loudon FRUTH USA/91      1:17.61
22 Jake PERKINS USA/92      1:17.62
23 Jay OGLE USA/91      1:17.65
24 Matt BONNER USA/91      1:17.69
25 Cole WRIGHT USA/91      1:17.74
26 William KANELLOS USA/91      1:17.77
27 Ryan COCHRAN-SIEGLE USA/92      1:17.81
28 Max MARNO USA/91      1:17.86
29 Liam MULHERN USA/91      1:17.93
30 Cameron SMITH USA/92      1:17.99
31 Victor MAJOR USA/92      1:18.02
32 Evan DIAMOND USA/91      1:18.03
33 Dustin MARTIN USA/91      1:18.04
34 Derek STRAND USA/91      1:18.22
35 Travis KUSTER USA/91      1:18.23
36 Russell LORANG USA/91      1:18.39
37 Nick BAILEY USA/91  &nbsp
;  
1:18.41
38 Marc MASSIE USA/91      1:18.46
39 Gunnar SHAW USA/92      1:18.77
40 John ZINSER USA/91      1:18.97
41 Louis MORIN CAN/91      1:19.17
42 Taber ENGELKEN USA/92      1:19.19
43 Taylor SHIFFRIN USA/92      1:19.25
44 Peter ALBERTSON USA/92      1:19.31
45 Robert CONE USA/92      1:19.43
46 Zachery RICKENBACH USA/92      1:19.47
47 Ryan MCCONNELL USA/91      1:19.61
48 Bobby FARRELL USA/91      1:19.62
49 Graham COLLINS USA/92      1:19.73
50 Derek SMITH USA/91      1:20.06
51 William ST.HILAIRE CAN/91 1:20.08
50 USA/92 Sam      1:20.08
53 Cody UNICUME USA/91      1:20.33
54 Paul WARNER USA/91      1:20.40
55 Daniel MENZE USA/91      1:20.53
56 Billy WONG USA/92      1:20.61
57 Dylan ROGERS USA/92      1:20.82
58 Aaron WIGGINS USA/91      1:21.09
59 Jake HUHN USA/91      1:21.53
60 Dane JENSEN USA/92      1:24.01

61 Kristoffer ENGEN USA/92            1:31.71

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About the Author: Pete Rugh