World Cup, Aspen, Co, (17-21 Jan 07)
This weekend saw world cup challenges in Aspen. Given Liz Millers tumble a couple of weeks back she is not participating but was hopefully going to be fit for Kimberely World Cup races the following weekend with Sean.
Sean sent in the following report covering his Super G and first GS performances.
“1st Super G race - Finished 9th
They put me on the board after my first run as 5th - so you can imagine how happy I was and couldn’t wait to tell you, but times were confirmed later and my time was a little longer and put me 9th - but still reached my goal of achieving a top 10 finish! The field is so strong at this comp, it’s just like the Paralympics again - very few missing!
Well, the course is really steep, steepest I’ve raced on. Raced really well just 1 major mistake cost me it is fairly short course so bit turny for me so had to work hard. Not far behind the real big boys and beat a number of them. Pretty chuffed.
2nd Super G - finished 12th
Good run again apart from 2 pretty silly mistakes, just need to be more consistent and gain more experience of running races. But still considering that, I’m still up there with the lads.
1st GS race
Well, they set a hard course and the first pitch out the gate was very steep. They ran the 3rd-4th turn right through the hardest, iciest part of the run, it took out nearly half the field of mono skiers. Me included.
Pretty mad with myself but later smiled as only 10 out of 25 mono skiers finished the day - wow.!! Pretty tough 2nd GS race Good course - more open - had a ball, raced well and very happy with run.
Top half of field. 2nd run of day and decided needed to have one for the queen to hold my place or improve so went for it. Few very hairy moments and just gunning it finally caught up on me few gates form the end, banked in too hard into a gate and got caught on the edge and rammed straight through it, spun out and race over. Ooh well that’s racing.
Good news though, as it proves on my day I can cut it with the best. Great experience!”
After and impressive 9th and 12th place in the Super G, Rose was faced with arguably his weakest discipline for the last two days of slalom races in Aspen.
But things got better and better…!! His worst event, but best result…!!
1st run – Rose gave the course too much respect and was a little over cautious out the gate, got rotated and slowed to a near stop, annoyed with himself he proceeded to rip the rest of the course and regained position with a pretty good run finishing 12th. Went into 2nd run and again too steady into first few gates - had a real clean and quick finish-probably his best ever Slalom run! Moved on up the leader board to 5th.
Sean was quoted as saying:
“Can you believe it, me, Slalom, 5th - beat some top names? Well happy!”
In the following days races Rose went for it from the start. Too much speed into a flush and came out too direct, saw a red gate go flying past on his left that he should have gone round. A great shame as he was sure he was onto a stormer.
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