Blunck continues to rack up titles

Junior National and Big Air titles won in same week

Crested Butte Mountain Sports Team (CBMST) skier Aaron Blunck already has two nicknames—Airin’ Blunck and the Pocket Hercules of the Halfpipe—and probably many more that I don’t know about, and he’s only 14 years old.
But it only makes sense when you consider his list of accomplishments at such a young age, especially in the past week.
Back in January, Crested Butte Mountain Resort hosted a USSA Junior Nationals qualifying event. It was a one-shot deal for Blunck and he stepped up to the challenge, winning his J3 age group handily in the halfpipe and qualifying for the Junior Nationals in Steamboat last week.
In preparation for the event, CBMST head freeride coach Woody Lindenmeyr and Blunck used a USASA event here on Sunday, March 6 to fine tune his halfpipe run for the Junior Olympics.
“I worked intensely with him all weekend,” says Lindenmeyr. “We definitely straightened out a few of the wrinkles that were going on.”
According to Lindenmeyr, Blunck’s first run at Sunday’s event was perfect and he was primed for a stellar performance at the Junior Nationals.
“It was good to make those progressions before the comp,” says Lindenmeyr. “We definitely had our eyes on the podium.”
The next day, Blunck hit the road with CBMST freeride coach Ben Somrak, bound for Steamboat for Blunck’s first appearance at a USSA Junior Nationals halfpipe event.
A storm system limited training during the first two days of Junior Nationals but the skies started to clear for the competition day on Wednesday, March 9.
There were two titles on the line that day for Blunck, his J3 age group title as well as the overall Junior National halfpipe title, including all ages from 12 to 18 years old.
Blunck dropped in for his first of two runs and immediately turned heads up and down the pipe, sending his small frame 12 to 14 feet out of the halfpipe.
“It’s all about amplitude,” says Somrak. “The one way you make a judge say ‘wow’ is how big you go, and Aaron can go huge.”
His run was strong enough to not only secure him the J3 title, but he finished in second place in the overall standings, .2 points behind first place, with one more run to go.
Blunck scored even better on his second run and he finished the Junior Nationals Halfpipe event with a J3 National title and a second-place finish overall.
“I couldn’t ask for any more,” says Lindenmeyr. “He’s so young. He’s going to be winning everything next year.”
But Blunck wasn’t done, as he then returned to Crested Butte to defend his Big Air on Elk title on Saturday, March 12.
Blunck proceeded to step it up as the night wore on, taking his second Big Air on Elk title by the time it was done.
“He started with a cork 7, worked up to a cork 9 and won the event with a cork 10 tail grab,” says Somrak. “He’s got the competition mindset. When he needs to turn it on, he does.”
And in true sportsmanship fashion, Blunck and the rest of the podium finishers at Big Air pooled their winnings and split them evenly.
Blunck’s next challenge comes at the USASA National Championships at Copper Mountain April 9-13. This year he will be mixing with the big boys as he is entered in the Open Class and a shot at a $3,000 cash prize.