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5th Place Nendaz Europa Cup

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:22:00 +0000

I finished 5th at the Europa Cup PGS Thursday in Nendaz, Switzerland. The German coach set an extremely tight giant slalom course. I had a slow first run, but bounced back strong to win the second run and qualify fifth. I got bounced in the quarter-finals and ended up fifth. It was a fun race and most importantly great training for the World Cup tomorrow which will be held on the same hill. I’m excited for a fun race tomorrow. I love the hill. I’m relaxing today, watching the Wengen downhill with Zac, Ian, Annie and Missy. Tonight we have a public bib draw in Nendaz. I’m stoked to be back in the top seed again. I freerode on top of the mountain this morning to get the feeling for tomorrow. The snow was perfect and the view spectacular. Missy, Annie and Rima are here cheering us on. We’re ready to rip tomorrow. Go AST!

5th Place Europa Cup, Nendaz, Switzerland

Talk to you soon,

Bonjour de Nendaz!

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:43:21 +0000

Hey Everyone,

Chris and I are enjoying a day off before the race tomorrow. Chris had a great result a couple of days ago in the Europa Cup with a 5th place finish. He was the top American and it was almost a complete world cup field! I had some trouble in my second qualifying run and did not make the finals but I’m riding well and feel confident we will both do well in the World Cup tomorrow. After my illness and missing the last World Cup I’m excited to get back in the start gates.

Here’s a picture that Missy Klug took from the start of the Europa Cup two days ago…the view does not suck around here!

Zac

Kreuzberg Rules!

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:41:04 +0000

We had a fun morning of training at Kreuzberg Pass, Italy today. It dumped here the past days; it’s winter wonderland outside. I love it here. The food, people, mountains and lifestyle are hard to beat. It feels like our home away from home. It’s a nice break in-between World Cup races. We’re training the next few days, then heading to Switzerland. I’m looking forward to some rodelling and skate skiing the next few afternoons as well – gotta mix it up a little. I had some bad luck in training this morning breaking my training board – more work for Ian. He’s cursing me now, sorry buddy! I’m going to get horizontal and watch the Adelboden giant slalom race. Talk to ya soon,

5th Place Kreischberg, Austria

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:00:06 +0000

I had a super fun race yesterday in Kreischberg, Austria. It was an awesome event. I was super stoked with my riding. I was close to advancing to semi’s, but just came up short. I was bummed, not being able to continue riding, as it was such a fun hill and perfect snow. The crowd was insane; there were a few thousand people at the bottom. Nothing like snowboard racing in Austria; they know how to do it right. The race was aired live across Europe on ORF-1. Unfortunately Zac was sick and was not able to start, so I had to step it up and get the job done for the both of us. He’s feeling better and I know will bounce back strong. We’re at Kreuzeberg Pass, Italy for a few days training and relaxing. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. Kreuzeberg is located in the Dolomite mountains in the Sud-Tirol region of Italy. I’m staring at the radest view of the mountains from my room. We’re training hard the next few days, getting ready for a Europa Cup at Nendaz, Switzerland on Jan. 14th, the same hill we will race the next World Cup and qualifier on Jan. 17th. We’ll be working hard this week to try and find the podium in Nendaz. To set the record straight I’m currently leading the 2010 AST Chess Championship. It feels so good. Bring it on Zac – you’re my chess bitch. Thanks for all your support. Happy 2010!

Happy New Year!

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:24:55 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope everyone had a great holiday and very happy new years! Chris and myself spent new years on the plane to Europe. We toasted with a glass of champagne and then I handed him one last crushing defeat in chess before the new year.

Unfortunately, the AST wolf pack has been cut down to just two riders. Josh and Erica did not qualify for the last three Olympic qualifiers however they are both in good spirits and stoked on all they’ve accomplished this season with the formation of AST. They’re still heavily involved in helping with logistics and supporting Chris and I so we can carry the torch all the way to Vancouver for the team.

Anyway, we are now in Radstadt, Austria which is about a half hour south of Salzburg. There’s not much snow here but a storm is expected in the next few days and we should be able to at least do a little free riding and some training before the Kreischberg qualifier on the 6th.

I must go now, I need to give Chris his first chess defeat of 2010 before we go to bed.

Zac

Telluride Qualifiers

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:38:06 +0000

: Telluride WC Olympic Qualifier

The team just finished up two Olympic qualifing races in Telluride Colorado. While we didn’t podium this week, we all rode well and picked up valuable points toward the Olympic team selection criteria. The next race is in Kreischberg, so be sure to keep rooting for us!

Chris

We got our first win of the season!

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:41 +0000

Hey Everyone,

We wrapped up our intense Copper training camp on Friday and our last week was by far the best and most productive. We were able to train alongside the Swiss, the lone Swede Daniel Biveson and the Canadians for most of the week. We set duel courses and even held a mock race one day with a cash purse that everyone chipped in for. Klug represented well in the mock race placing second and just losing by a couple tenths to Silver medalist Simone Schoch.

Everyone parted ways and went home for some much needed rest on Saturday. I was able to spend a few days at home but had to pack up and head over to Europe on Wednesday. I’m still in need of a World Cup start for the upcoming event in Limone, Piemonte so I needed to come to Austria and race in some Europa Cup’s.

Yesterday was the first race and my decision to fly over paid off, I started 33rd (once again a stacked field with a lot of the top World Cup riders) and ended up qualifying in 9th after two decent runs. The riders in the finals had their work cut out for them as there were over 200 riders in yesterday’s race so the snow conditions looked like a war zone with craters and ruts you could lose a small horse in.

I advanced through the first couple of rounds and soon found myself facing Anton Unterkofler from Austria in the finals with Adam Smith and Manual Vieth racing for 3rd and 4th. Anton had me by full penalty after I made a mistake on the 3rd gate from the finish in the first run. However, he ended up making the same mistake at the very same gate in the second run and I was able to hold on for the victory! Adam rode well both runs and took 3rd place.

Today’s race had a little better snow conditions but that came with hurricane force winds. I started even farther back today with the arrival of a few more good riders from the World Cup but I ended up qualifying 3rd and ended the day in 4th after they decided to cut the finals to one run duels because of the wind. Overall a great weekend for me and a good confidence boost for the World Cup in Limone!

Zac

Copper Cup Racing

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:16:21 +0000

We had two days of awesome racing action at Copper Mountain, Colorado. The conditions were perfect for carving. It was a strong field of international riders. I got off to a fast start in Thursday’s Giant Slalom race, winning the first run. I ran into problems on my second run and fell to fifteenth. I was bummed I didn’t hold on for a podium finish, but stoked to be riding fast. Friday’s PGS was super fun. I had a good battle with Canadian Rider Jasey Jay Anderson. He advanced to semis, beating me by. .02. I was hoping to claim a podium in the two races, but stoked with my riding and loving working with Rob & Ian and my AST Teammates. There’s no doubt in my mind that AST is the best program to put us all in a position to accomplish our snowboarding goals. I’m excited to work hard this week training at Copper and be ready to rip in December. We travel to Italy in early December for our World Cup PGS Opener in Limone Piemonte, Italy on Dec. 6th. We will keep you posted! Thanks for checkin’ in!

Nor Am Races

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:24:11 +0000

We had a good week of riding, but a couple if ill timed mistakes cost us the results we hoped for. We’re all riding fast and loose – we just need to minimize our mistakes. Despite the set back, the entire team feels well poised to make some noise this year.

All Work and No Play? No Way!

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:36:43 +0000

Halloween in Aspen with AST…Need I say more?