Park City, NorAm Report
Conditions for training leading up to the competition hadn’t been ideal, but it was a solid start to the season for the first comp for both our skiers, Tim Lever and Harry Gillam. The snow arrived early at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) and the singles and doubles ramps were soon up and running but then it rained and the conditions at the air site deteriorated fast. The temperature finally dropped and it snowed on the ice, which brought its own set of problems. There was new snow the week of the competition and the triples ramp was built, but it was windy throughout.
There were two days of official training before the competition. One day was a really black day with a spate of accidents; two fully-blown knees, one broken ankle, one damaged shoulder and there was a girl who caught an edge on the ramp and came off, wiping out her coach on the knoll. The wind was gusty and everyone was on edge following this. The snowstorm held off, but the winds were very unpredictable for the competitions ; its one of the traits of the UOP that the conditions can be variable and windy – all the athletes have to learn to deal with it and jump safely.
Leading up to the competition, training went to plan. The coaches have a rule that for at least a week, everyone, regardless of their level has to drill only single jumps, after which they start to work through their own progressions.
It was planned that our guys would just jump doubles for the first competition, due to the limited training time available beforehand. They will continue with their training plans and progress to their top-end doubles and triples later in the season. Exactly when and how fast they progress will be a decision they will make with their coaches.
The first day of competition was held in “traditional” format, with each athlete performing two jumps. Harry and Tim both jumped “Lay-Full” and “Full-Full” with Tim finishing in 18th place and Harry in 21st. The second day of competition used the new “championship” format, where the qualifying round consists of only one jump and the top 12 finishers progress to battle it out in the final rounds. With the wind gusting strongly enough to uproot the course fences and banners, Harry played it safe, jumping a “Lay-Full” while Tim kept with his “Full-Full”. Both of them were unlucky not to make the finals, with Harry finishing in 14th place and Tim in 16th but both were equally relieved to have made it through the day.
Harry Gillam commented: “It’s always nerve-racking for your first competition of the season. What didn’t help any of us was the week before the wind had picked up and kept changing throughout practice. Once the competition started, both days had strong changing winds.”
Harry came into these competitions not too worried about where he placed. He had been set the goals he needed to achieve his first World Cup start in Lake Placid during January 2013. He’s very happy to have achieved them particularly with the weather being so harsh. He came away injury free and feeling good, having collected enough points to be promoted to the British A team.
The first competition now over they will concentrate on training and improvements supported by a planned training schedule. Snow conditions have improved loads with more fresh snow and they are back training already.
Harry added: “Now I’m focused on training and being consistent with my jumps in preparation for Lake Placid where I will start my World Cup tour and hopefully qualify for more World Cups!”
Result Sheet Links
Park City (USA) NorAm-Men’s Results 2012-12-21
Park City (USA) Ladies Results 2012-12-21
Park City (USA) NorAm-Men’s Results 2012-12-22
Park City (USA) Ladies Results 2012-12-22