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Steamboat skiers take top spots at Lake Placid

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Steamboat Springs — The athletes in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s Nordic combined program came away from this year’s New Year’s jumping events in Lake Placid, N.Y., with top results — and mixed feelings.

“We saw good things from both Cliff Field and Taylor Fletcher,” Todd Wilson said.

Wilson, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s Nordic director, said he was happy with the results. He added that the meet is a measuring stick that will help the club’s athletes achieve their goals in the future.

Field led the junior class Dec. 30. He was followed by Peter Frenette in second and Spencer Knickerbocker in third. Frenette and Knickerbocker are both from the Eastern division.

In the senior class, U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team member Willy Graves took top honors. Graves is just off the World Cup B circuit, where he has been struggling.

Fletcher was second, but Todd Wilson said if the Steamboat skier wants to move up to the U.S. team, he will need to start beating the World Cup B skiers when he has a chance.

“There is still a gap there, and we need to close it,” Wilson said. “It’s true that Taylor didn’t have his best day on the jumps, but in order to move up you need to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Nick Hendrickson was third, and a strong showing by Brett Denney helped him finish fourth.

Wilson said he was happy with the finishes of Charlie Stoddard (ninth) and Sam Chovan (10th). Their finishes were not as high as some of the other skiers, but Wilson said it was a chance for them to gain valuable experience.

“Those guys haven’t traveled to compete that much,” Wilson said. “There is a learning curve, and these guys skied pretty well.”

This weekend, the Steamboat skiers are competing in qualifying meets for the World Junior Championships.