May 31, 2009
Glenwood Springs, CO
The mayor of Glenwood Springs commenced the 2009 US Team Trials by thanking each event committee member and praising the efforts of organizers who built the renowned wave. At high flows, the Glenwood Springs feature forms a giant wave that kayakers seek as a destination wave.
Alex Mohn coaches New River Academy student Tracy D'Arbeloff to first place on US Jr. Women Team.
This weekends water level also offered a remarkable feature for the event. Top athletes were able to stick pan ams, clean blunts, back pan ams, helixes, mcnasties, and flashbacks.
Stephen Wright stated of the juniors, “It was no surprise that the New River Academy juniors competed so well at trials. NRA has great students and they are well coached.”
Junior Men Semi-finals
It was the Dane Jackson and Jason Craig (New River Academy athlete) show during the semi-finals as the field try to make the cut from 10 to 5 athletes. Dane ended up winning the round, while both Dane and Jason had an awesome display of aerial acrobatics. Jason would stick his donkey flips, a clean blunt, and backstabs. New River Academy athlete Isaac Holden stepped up his competition efforts and claimed the third seat after semis. Isaac, a dark horse for one of three positions on the US team, hit air blunts, pan ams, and clean spins to rally his score. Michael Palmer, top contender and local favorite, missed his normal rides and was still good enough to make the cut to five.
NRA student Jason Craig rallies points with clean blunts and donkey flips.
Junior Men Finals
Athletes would be given three rides where the best ride counts to encourage high scoring exciting moves. Michael Palmer won the first round with an aerial display of donkey flips and pan ams that would be enough to secure a third place position on the prestigious US team. Next, Dane had a mediocre ride by typical Jackson standards, but this could be enough to even make the team. Jason Craig would have a complete flush on his first ride. A flush added pressure as one ride was now gone with only two rides left.
During the second round Dane would best Michael’s ride with his own display of helix and pan ams. Dane would hold the first position as Jason could not best his ride in this round. In the last and final round Dane, Michael, and Jason held their positions as Isaac Holden had one last shot to best Jason Craig’s rides. Isaac would have to step up his ride and hit a high scoring and riskier move to advance. Isaac gave it his best and went for the move that would ultimately place him in the top three.
After Isaac’s ride the announcer unofficially announced that the three junior men going to the World Championships would be Dane Jackson, Michael Palmer, and Jason Craig. Only Jason could change the positioning of the seats with his final ride. Jason’s ride began slow and methodically as he set each move air blunt, air blunt, round house, back stab, and then with less than fifteen seconds left Jason’s JK Star found its energy and a groove that would flow from move to move. Donkey flip left as the crowd began to roar, a spin and rise to the top of the pile for a donkey flip right, the crowd cheered, and with seconds winding down Jason sticks a helix at the buzzer. Jason Craig would claim the first seat on the US Team in dramatic and heroic form.
Junior Women Semi-finals
Six junior women entered the US Team Trials. The Junior Women format would have a cut from 6 to 3 in the first round of competition. Note, that only two junior women would make the US Team. Thus, the first cut was the most important and stressful cut for the women.
Emery Tillman is excited after posting a winning ride and making the US Team.
New River Academy with four of the six junior women in the field would coach the girls to finish and stick moves for full scoring benefits, and to lastly go for high scoring moves at the end of rides.
Emery Tillman (New River Academy) would advance on consistent spins in each direction. Tracy D’Arbeloff (New River Academy) and Hannah Kertesz would tie for first and these three would be the advancing three to finals.
During finals Emery and Tracy would step up their rides. Tillman executed spins each direction and went for clean spins at the end of her ride. Each ride was consistent and certainly placed pressure on the field as she posted a solid 25 points to set the mark as the score to make the US Team. Hannah could not produce her normal round houses and had two misfortunate flushes as she won the bronze.
Tracy D’Arbeloff would earn the US Team Trials Junior Women Champion title via a well choreographed ride and consistency. Tracy would hit a spin each direction and shuvit each direction to separate her score from the field.
Congratulations to all juniors and the New River Academy team Jason Craig, Tracy D’Arbeloff, and Emery Tillman as they won gold, gold, and silver.
Other New River Academy juniors who competed and their places:
Palmer Miller- 4th
Taylor Cote- 6th
Isaac Holden- 5th
Stephen Forster- 6th
Jackson Conn- 7th
Pro Men
Coach Alex Mohn- 8th (just two spots away from making the team)
“And that has made all the difference.”
You can Apply to New River Academy.
Tags: junior freestyle team trials, junior kayaking competition, US Freestyle kayaking Junior national team
While Alex provided great coaching at the Glenwood event, New River Academy Coach Tino Specht prepared his students very well and should also share in these congratulations!
Does NRA ever compete in slalom???
Kyle at the moment we are no longer offering slalom programs due to low numbers. We would certainly be excited to offer our academic support to a junior slalom program. Additionally, our Chile base actually has a slalom course on property.