Johnson continues to dominate Lake Placid ski jump hill; wins US national
title
Four crowns issued as USSA moves championships to autumn
courtesy of ORDA 10/11/08
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - It's just not possible for ski jumper Anders Johnson to
lose in Lake Placid. The United States Olympian from Park City, Utah won yet
again on the 90 meter hill Saturday in capturing the 2008 U.S. National
Championship against a strong field.
The United States Ski and Snowboard Association made the decision
earlier this year to move the national competition from late March to
October, and found a willing host in Lake Placid and the Olympic Regional
Development Authority (ORDA), managers of the Olympic Jumping Complex.
The win was Johnson's sixth straight on his "other" home hill. Fellow
Park City jumper Lindsey Van emerged victorious in the women's national
championship event.
The Lake Placid competition, part of the annual Flaming Leaves
Festival, was held in radiant sunshine with temperatures in the mid 60s.
Competitors jumped on the artificial surfaces at the Lake Placid venue that
incorporates a porcelain tile in-run and synthetic landing hill. When
watered, both surfaces emulate winter conditions.
"It means more that I had two really good jumps, but obviously it's
nice to win again," Van said. "It's been a while since anything like that
has happened, so I'm excited. It feels like a step in the right direction
for me. I don't like losing. Who likes losing? Let's just say [I hope to
win] every one I compete in from here on out."
The winner had jumps of 95 and 96 meters for 251 distance and style
points. Van turned back Jessica Jerome and Alissa Johnson, two more Park
City jumpers. Jerome posted 96 and 89.5 meter jumps for 237.5 points, while
Johnson measured 92 and 88.5 meters and 226 points.
Against the backdrop of live music and vendors offering arts and
crafts, Johnson flew 99 and 101 meters, totaling 268.5 points for distance
and style. He bested Nordic combined specialists Johnny Spillane and Bill
Demong. Spillane, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., second on the day, jumped
101.5 and 98 meters for 261.5 points. Demong, of nearby Vermontville, N.Y.,
who will be inducted into the Saranac Lake High School Hall of Fame next
week, sailed 100.5 and 91 meters. The World Championship silver medalist
placed third with 251 points.
However, Spillane and Demong were not done yet. On a day when the
National Nordic Combined Championship was to be decided, the twosome put on
a roller ski race that had the large crowd taking notice. They negotiated
Lake Placid's nearly 1.7 kilometer paved loop that sent racers uphill to the
rear of the complex and into the ski jump parking lot before blasting
downhill around the outrun and behind the bleachers of the stadium. Eight
laps and nearly 15 kilometers later, Spillane, who shadowed ski jump leader
Demong for the first half of the race, overcame a 22 second ski jump deficit
to grab the national crown by 9-tenths of a second.
"This was a really hard race," said Spillane, a world title holder. "I
messed up my (ski jump) landings and was bummed out by my jumping. I was
fortunate not to blow up in the cross country race. I just went hard to
catch Billy and held the lead the rest of the way."
The give and take of trading advantages between the two friendly
rivals gave the sundrenched audience great entertainment over the short
loop. The concept of racers coming and going every few seconds appealed to
Columbus weekend tourists and Nordic fans alike, particularly the fast
downhill section between the upper and lower parking lots where racers
tucked at breakneck speed.
"This was a good race and a lot of fun," said Demong, a member of the
Saranac Lake High School Cross Country team that won a state championship in
1995. "This is a better time of year for the nationals. Usually there is a
letdown at the end of the year after all the travel and competition. We have
a better range of options in the fall. It's kind of a kick-off party and you
can see how your summer training has gone."
Demong finished ahead of Todd Lodwick, of Steamboat Springs.
Jerome, meanwhile, grabbed the women's Nordic Combined win by taking a
big lead in the ski jump portion of the event. Abby Hughes of Park City was
second and Avery Ardovino, also of Park City, third. The women's cross
country leg was decided by a running race.
