I want to say thank you to Izzy Laymen ’16 for letting me get an exclusive interview with her. Skier cross is an emerging sport at Gould Academy. Take the style of boarder cross a sport for snowboarders with jumps and turns built into the course and do it on skis. To me that sounds like an impressive feat. Izzy has been a competitive ski racer for the past ten years and has decided to diverge into a new discipline. Izzy has gone from skiing FICS races against hundreds of girls to competing against less than ten people. A while back I was lucky enough to be able to ask Izzy a few questions about the sport and what she has learned.
1. How is technique in skier cross different from racing?
When you are racing you’re more aware of your space, since you are racing with three other people and crashing is bad for everyone. Staying forward in your boots will help you the most with technique, also hitting the jumps without getting to much air. Since you go faster and it’s easier to maintain your lead on the snow. Really the main key is to absorb as much of the terrain as possible and know the corse, so some events during the race can be expected.
2. How is a typical skier cross course set up?
out of gate is rollers
medium to large jump
banked turns 3-4
jump
more rollers
finial jump over finish line
3. Is it challenging going from a sport so well know and participated in to something more unconventional?
the unexpectedness is why I like it every course is so different it’s not just left right left right
4. Is there a difference in the competition level when you are competing against your teammates right next to you rather than them going the run before or after you?
haven’t gone against teammates yet
biggest race was with 8 people
get to know the people you race against more
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