FIS Hole Shot Tour

KMS BOOST Snowboarder Sophie Anderson on the Hole Shot Course

March 6-8, 2012 Killington Resort hosted the second of three stops of the 2011-2012 Hole Shot Tour ski and snowboardcross race series. Designed to bridge the gap between amateur and pro level cross racing, the Hole Shot Tour is the next step for most riders after competing in the Revolution Tour and the final stop before the big time World Cup level events. With a less than awesome snow year, Killington came through with a big and fast course for the 100 snowboarders and roughly 15 skiers that turned out to race.

KMS Class of '14 student-athlete Logan Farmer competed along with KMS BOOST Snowboarder Sophie Anderson in a very talented field. Of the 59 men competing, the vast majority had multiple race experience at the USSA and FIS level, including several riders that have podiumed this season at World Cup races. The women's field, though smaller at 43 athletes was just as talented. Also competing- KMS BOOST Teacher Heather House, KMS Alum skicross racer Taylor Doxsee and KMS Weekend Skicross Racer Mazie Hayden, the youngest racer on course at 11 years old and forerunner.

L-R Sophie Anderson, Coach Evan Ricker, Logan Farmer and Matt St. Denis

After a very cold practice day on the course, the riders were ready for a FAST competition. The banked turns were...textured and the rollers were quick. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), the weather took a serious turn for Day 1 of racing as sunny skies cuased the temperatures to soar into the 50's. After a fast opening by forerunner Mazie Hayden, skier men and women took one run down the course for time trails and finals heats were set. Unfortunately, Taylor's run put him in ninth place and only the top eight make it to finals. By contrast, snowboarders take two time trials runs with the fastest time counting. After their runs, Sophie was in 15th, Logan in 50th and Matt in 51st. Since women's heats were limited to 16, Sophie advanced to finals while the day was over for Farmer and St. Denis as the men's heats were limited to the top 32. After a rough start in her first heat, Sophie passed a rider in the first turn of the course and ended up finishing in third place. Although Sophie didn't advance, she ended up in 12th place in her first ever FIS boardercross.

The start gate at the top of the course.

For Day 2, the warm weather continued. With fresh wax and new coaching on line, the team again attacked the course. Taylor qualified in seventh place and made men's finals, while Sophie picked up the pace and qualified in 14th place for women's snowboard finals. After a slower than expected first run, Logan decided to go all-out for run 2. On pace for a sub 50 second time which would have placed Farmer into the finals, a crash sent him home for the day but in 49th place, one better than the previous day. Sophie again made a pass in her finals heat and was racing with purpose, only to crash just after passing the second place racer. Sophie finished the heat in third and ended the day in 11th overall. Considering the field, we are VERY proud of our racers and excited to see them improve their results next time! Next stop: USASA National Championships in Copper, CO 3/31-4/6/2012

KMS Class of '14 Logan Farmer airs it out over a re-direct hip.