USASA Copper Mtn

A double header at Copper Mountain was our next event. With everyone posting good times during qualifying, our runs were looking good. Emma Pullin and Nick Warren both come through heats very convincingly to set up exciting finals berths.

Nick’s heat started out well, he pulled out fast from a slow gate and all four competitors were side by side over the first roller. This worked into Nick’s favour as they all collided and went down, leaving him alone, out front into the first burm. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be though as he lost balance over one of the gap jumps and went down. A great effort though still saw him collect forth. Emma easily moved through the heats winning all by big margins. The final saw her draw a good gate and with a typical fast start, pumping well over the rollers but had the outside line into the first burm and slipped into second. It stayed like this until the end as overtaking on the short course is difficult. A great effort also from Daniel Morrissy saw him collect a 5th place and Bryan Taylor 9th.

Day two saw Daniel get rid of the first day gitters to set the fourth fastest time in qualifying. He then continued this with some extremely good racing showing a mature head to hold off possible advances and gather a podium spot finishing second. Mixed luck for the rest of the team with Bryan collecting 5th, Nick 9th and Emma 5th.

Nor Am Copper Mtn

The double header NorAm at Copper attracted many good racers with lots of FIS points up for grabs. Emma put in a tentative qualifying and still managed a respectable 14th. She was unable to better this in heats, though still taking home 43.20 FIS points. Nick and Bryan were unable to qualify in the big field.

USASA Copper Mtn

Our last event for the camp saw the team cut down to just two. Bryan and Nick both flew out to Big White Canada looking for some more FIS points. That left just Daniel and Emma to compete in these events. Daniel again was racing well posting another good time in qualifying. Heats went very well and against some tougher opposition than last week, he fought it out for a finals berth. He managed a well run 3rd place in both events which would see him qualify for the USASA Nationals in March. Emma had good qualifying and heats though during her final a competitor fell in front of her forcing her to miss a gate, non-the less she came home 4th.

The camp was a huge success thanks to everyone involved. We experienced some good and not so good events here in the United States. We also had a good time to and from events such as our 40 hour round trip to Minnesota, leaving us with some great stories for everyone back home.

I would like to thank all of the athlete’s, Julia De Campo, Emma Pullin, Daniel Morrissy, Nick Warren and Bryan Taylor, I know I have learnt things from all of you and very much enjoyed all of your company over the past five weeks and hope you have done the same. I would also like to send a big thanks to all their friends and family for helping them get here.

Finally, I would like to thank the National Snowboard Coach, Ben Wordsworth, for all his help not only to orginise the camp but also his support and help during the camp whenever needed. Also to Ski and Snowboard Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee who have funded this camp and get it off the ground and made it a feasible program for everyone involved.

Regards,

Nathan Zentveld