KMS Snowboard team charges through the weekend to earn five podiums in three disciplines
Killington Mountain School's Snowboard team had a very busy and successful weekend. Working both sides of the continent, they brought home five medals in three different disciplines across North America.
Canadian FIS SnowboardCross
The week kicked off with a trip home for Canadian KMS athlete EK Robinson-Leith. She packed her bags and traveled to the great western north of British Columbia to earn points towards a spot on the 2017 Canadian World Junior SBX team.
It was a trip that put EK's mental strength to the test. The morning before we left, she rolled her ankle in agility. After a quick diagnosis, excellent physio, and some mobilization tape she was ready to fly. The travel day started at 5:10 am with heavy mixed precipitation and slow driving. We made it to the airport just in time for check in.
Our first flight was delayed, and we missed our connection. It added about five hours to an already long travel day. Upon arriving in Kelowna, BC at 10:49 pm, we were informed that three of our four bags didn't make the flight and would be delivered in the morning.
EK took it all in stride, and rolled right into training as soon as her gear arrived. An international field turned up for the event, and it was time to start racing! Bib seeding for the event was done according to FIS points, so EK was positioned fourth in heats. She raced well, and earned third place in the final to land her on the podium!
The following day, seeding was based on the previous day's results so EK moved up one position. She raced very well in heats, and won her semifinal round with the #2 seeded racer.
The Women's final was tight, and over the fourth feature another athletes board banged into EK's. EK went done with a nasty bruise to her hip. This earned her fourth place, and has put her in great position for earning a World Junior spot.
USASA Southern VT Series RailJam- Stratton Mountain
This weekend also saw our home series host two RailJam events on Saturday and Sunday at Stratton. Slopestyle Coach Devon Gulick brought a strong group of four KMS riders to compete on Saturday.
First year KMS athletes Ben Smith and Chris Oko joined our team vets Kian Hauschildt and Pasha Aksoy at the competition. Conditions on Saturday were a little challenging, but our athletes rode well and threw down. Chris Oko led the KMS charge with a fourth place in Snowboard 10-13.
The conditions improved on Sunday, and Chris Oko took advantage by advancing to second place and getting to climb the podium.
Sat results-
Snowboard 10-13 boys
Chris Oko 4th & Kian Hauschildt 10th
Snowboard 14-Over men
Ben Smith 7th & Pasha Aksoy 11th
Sun results-
Snowboard 10-13 boys
Chris Oko 2nd
Snowboard 14-Over men
Ben Smith 9th & Pasha Aksoy 10th
USASA New Hampshire Series SL & GS Races - Waterville Valley
KMS Snowboard athletes Liam Scott and Xavier Kennedy continue to tear up ranks of the New England USASA Alpine snowboard community. They have followed up their stellar Southern VT USASA podium display two weeks ago with more spot in the NH Series.
Waterville Valley hosted both Slalom and Giant Slalom events on Sunday. In the SL, Xavier Kennedy earned second place and Liam Scott rode to fifth. Later on in the GS, our athletes made it a KMS Snowboard podium-sandwich with Liam Scott racing to first and Xavier Kennedy holding down third.
Their results so far have placed them in a great position to qualify for USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain in April.
