The pace today was sure to be fierce with several of us (Max, Greg, Wick, Andy and myself) competing for the final three spots on the Nationals Team that will travel to Pelvoux, France in February.
A low-angle start had racers off and running. Yep, you can literally run in today's superlight gear like the Scarpa Alien boot and the SkiTrab Race Aero World Cup skis . The running continued on a low angle single track for about 20 minutes. Tom Goth and Marshall Thomson led the charge followed closely by Jon Gaston, Greg Ruckman, myself and Bryan Smith. The first climb topped out on a small bare knoll. The descent was nothing short of hairball with soft snow, crunchy snow, downed trees and lots of brush towards the bottom. I witnessed some spectacular crashes (no names mentioned). The leg burn on a descent like this (following a 40 minute ascent) is off the charts.
After another low angle climb we were at the top of the infamous "Heathen", a super steep bump run with tight turns and more brush. As Max Taam flew by me I felt my chances of making the team slipping away. On the final ascent I followed Max up the skintrack with Dorais, Ruckman and Wickenhauser nipping at our heels. All three passed me securing a spot on the team for Ruckman, Wickenhauser and Taam. Congrats guys! I finished in 8th place. By finishing in the top 8 in all 3 qualifying races I become the first alternate for the team.
| Race Class-Male | ||
| Name | Bib Number | Time |
| John Gaston | 199 | 01:58.6 |
| J. Marshall Thomson | 699 | 01:59.5 |
| Tom Goth | 192 | 02:00.2 |
| Max Taam | 208 | 02:02.1 |
| Greg Ruckman | 107 | 02:02.5 |
| Bryan Wickeuhauser | 700 | 02:02.5 |
| Jason Dorais | 194 | 02:03.1 |
| Scott Simmons | 214 | 02:03.5 |
| Luke Nelson | 169 | 02:04.0 |
| Andy Dorais | 193 | 02:08.1 |
| Brian Smith | 689 | 02:08.5 |
| Brad LaRochelle | 205 | 02:16.4 |
| Jan Koles | 201 | 02:17.3 |
| Travis Scheefer | 202 | 02:18.6 |
| Ben Kadlec | 695 | 02:19.4 |
| Scott Archer | 195 | 02:23.3 |
| Stephen White | 210 | 02:23.4 |
| Brian Johnson | 218 | 02:24.5 |
| Pete Swensen | 196 | 02:28.1 |
| Ram Mikulas | 701 | 02:30.3 |
| Doug Staeclik | 696 | 02:32.5 |
| John VonNostrand | 200 | 02:32.5 |
| James Hauser | 705 | 02:33.1 |
| Miles Venzara | 216 | 02:34.5 |
| Jeremy Rietmann | 212 | 02:35.2 |
| Eric Larson | 209 | 02:35.2 |
| Ben Lowellin | 702 | 02:35.2 |
| Mike Gibbs | 221 | 02:36.3 |
| Jon Lowe | 690 | 02:42.4 |
| Gregory Strokes | 168 | 02:43.1 |
| Mike Preston | 704 | 02:43.1 |
| Eric Black | 189 | 02:45.1 |
| Adam Frisch | 692 | 02:45.1 |
| Micah Thatcher | 697 | 02:49.2 |
| Pete Fox | 197 | 02:55.5 |
| David Phillips | 693 | 02:57.5 |
| Ralph Kuhlmeier | 213 | 02:59.3 |
| Kevin Douglas | 217 | 03:12.0 |
| Derek Esposito | 191 | 03:15.4 |
| Andy Mention | 694 | 03:19.4 |
| Dan Cooper | 222 | 03:20.4 |
| Tony Metager | 198 | 03:22.1 |
| Karl Wolt | 219 | 03:30.2 |
| Ryan Franz | 108 | 03:31.3 |
| Seth Murray | 203 | 03:32.3 |
| Craig Burger | 211 | 03:40.0 |
| Scott McCurdy | 691 | 03:41.1 |
| Jason Turner | 106 | 03:56.3 |
| Matt Cova | 703 | scratch |
