{"id":14401,"date":"2016-01-20T15:42:19","date_gmt":"2016-01-20T23:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=14401"},"modified":"2016-01-20T15:46:12","modified_gmt":"2016-01-20T23:46:12","slug":"ex-bv-coach-strawberry-resident-john-cashman-coached-us-ski-teams-ngt-youth-into-battle-at-hahnenkamm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=14401","title":{"rendered":"Ex BV Coach & Strawberry Resident John Cashman Coached US Ski Team’s NGT Youth Into Battle At Hahnenkamm"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kitzbuehl, Austria (January 20, 2016) \u2013 Six athletes from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association\u2019s U16 National Training Group (NTG) gained some World Cup course experience, and got a taste of what it\u2019s like to race in Europe, when they competed against nine other teams in the Hahnenkamm Juniors event Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\"ngtskiers\"<\/p>\n

\"Harsch\"<\/p>\n

Kaitlyn Harsch (Avon, CO) competes in slalom at the Hahnenkamm Juniors event Wednesday. (Hahnenkamm.com)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives you a real appreciation on how tough (the Hahnenkamm course) actually is,\u201d said Allie Resnick (Vail, CO). \u201cAnd how and icy it is. It\u2019s insane, you could barely stop!\u201d<\/p>\n

Resnick, along with AJ Hurt (Carnelian Bay, CA), Kaitlyn Harsch (Avon, CO), Ben Ritchie (Waitsfield, VT), Patrick Coughlin (North Salem, NY) and Zane Worrell (Vail, CO), competed against 10 other teams in a two-run, individual giant slalom and slalom race, combining their times for an overall team finish. The U.S. Team finished ninth overall. Austria Team 1 won the event, with Austria Team 2 in second, followed by Slovenia in third.<\/p>\n

\"Ritchie<\/p>\n

Ben Ritchie (Waitsfield, VT) competes in the giant slalom event at the Hahnenkamm Juniors event Wednesday. (Hahnenkamm.com)<\/em><\/p>\n

Last year was the first year the U.S. had participated in the event, and they finished second behind the home country team from Tirol. This year\u2019s team learned that ski racing\u2019s biggest stage is a bumpy, icy, rolling course that demands strength, focus and endurance, while rewarding racers who display the sharpest technical skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really good experience for them on some really hard, injected snow, with a lot of terrain, and some varied course sets \u2013 especially in GS,\u201d said U16 coach John Cashman. \u201cA couple of them have never even been to a World Cup race before, so it was sort of mind-blowing for them to see the whole thing of Kitzbuhel \u2026 it\u2019s a great experience for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Worrell\"<\/p>\n

Zane Worrell (Vail, CO) competes in the slalom event at the Hahnenkamm Juniors event Wednesday. (Hahnenkamm.com)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing is it gives our athletes a taste of what its like to compete in Europe. How difficult it is, and how much higher the level of intensity is that everybody skis with, as well as, tricky conditions,\u201d said Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and CEO. \u201cThe trail is not smooth and easy. It\u2019s icy and rollie, and they learned a lot today.\u201d<\/p>\n

The athletes will have the opportunity to watch the Hahnenkamm races beginning Friday with the men\u2019s combined event.<\/p>\n

HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n