The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Two skiers headed to Junior Nationals
by Than Acuff
The Crested Butte Nordic Team (CBNT) just wrapped up a frantic session of racing, with three Junior National Qualifier races over the course of the past five weeks. Both Sarah Bivens and Oliver White sealed their spots at the Junior Nationals in Truckee, Calif. March 9-14.
“They all handled the schedule well,” says coach Molly Susla. “Our younger kids weren’t training as hard and were able to bounce back between races and the older kids hung on well.”
Following the holiday break, the CBNT got back to racing when they headed to Steamboat Springs for a Junior National Qualifier (JNQ) January 18-19, followed that with another JNQ in Vail January 25-26 and then finished the regular season with races in Soldier Hollow, Utah February 14-15.
Bivens, in her first year as a u18 racer, made the most of her three races, posting podium results among her Rocky Mountain Division peers, as well as matching wits with u20 NCAA collegiate racers competing in all three weekends. Skye Bleakley joined Bivens in two of the three weekends as well, pushing her limits among the heavy hitters.
“The competition level was high and it was good to see how they both matched up,” says Susla.
Bivens won the 10-kilometer mass start classic race in Steamboat, including beating several u20 racers as well as posting a 19th-place finish overall out of 80 women, most of whom were collegiate-level racers.
“She definitely stood out and she’s just a sophomore in high school,” says Susla.
She closed out the regular season at Soldier Hollow, posting podium results among her Rocky Mountain Nordic division competitors finishing off as a shoo-in for Junior Nationals.
White, also in just his first year of racing u16, put together two great weekends of racing with top 10 results in Steamboat and Vail to settle himself in the running for Junior Nationals. He then sealed the deal in Soldier Hollow with 11th- and 12th-place finishes to earn a spot at Junior Nationals.
“It’s very rare that we have a first-year u16 male qualify so it was cool to see him do it,” says Susla.
Katie and Piper O’Neill closed out their seasons at Soldier Hollow, remaining consistent in their results and finished their first year of racing competitively in the u16 age class in 19th and 20th place overall.
“They’re on an amazing trajectory,” says Susla.
The younger racers had a great five-week stretch as well, as Nolan Frymoyer posted a couple of podium finishes among u14 racers over the Steamboat and Vail weekends and u14 skier Finn Veit closed the season in 12th place in the overall standings.
“I’m really proud of how everyone raced consistently at all races and in skate and classic,” says Susla.
Now White and Bivens prepare for the big show with three weeks to get their ducks in a row before heading to Junior Nationals.
“For Oliver it’s about maintenance,” says Susla. “We’re loading things on Sarah for eight days and then start to taper a little to bring her into Junior Nationals at her peak fitness, tempo and strength.”
