Snow captures Super G championship

ASPEN, Colo. — Sandpoint skier Scott Snow notched the most impressive finish of his burgeoning young career Friday afternoon during the final day of the J2 Nationals at Aspen, Colorado, finishing first in the Super G among a field of the top 60 junior ski racers in the country.

Winning a national championship is impressive, but what had Scott Snow on cloud nine Friday was the ensuing automatic invitation to the upcoming U.S. Alpine Ski Championships in Alyeska, Alaska, where he’ll be racing against some of his heroes, including the likes of Ted Ligety, Marco Sullivan and Steven Nyman.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said an excited Snow of the prospect of racing head-to-head against the best skiers in the U.S. “It’s not that I think I have a chance to beat them, but to see how I stack up.”

He stacked up well against the best junior skiers in the country this week, finishing second in the downhill on Monday to go with his Super G win Friday. He didn’t finish in either the slalom or the GS, a byproduct of pushing it to the limit in races decided by hundredths of seconds.

“In ski racing you either win or crash,” said proud father Shep Snow, who coaches Scott. “At this level, you have to cut the straps and let ‘em run.”

All of the U.S. Ski Team coaches were on hand in Aspen, scouting what are essentially tryouts for future spots on the team. Snow admitted that coming into the event he was just hoping to crack the top 15, and the high finishes were clearly unexpected.

“The over-arching theme of this trip might be surprise,” said Snow, who talked about the key to his performance. “Being relaxed mentally and leaving my mind out of it. I just let it all go and had fun doing what I love.”

Snow was one of four individual J2 national champions who secured an invite to Alaska, and once again, he’ll be the youngest competitor in the elite U.S. field. What he lacks in chronological age, he makes up for with ample size, power and focus.

Both Scott and Shep will return home for four days, before turning around and leaving for Alaska. They’ve been on the road for the better part of the last two months, including this week in Aspen, where Snow made a splash on the national stage.

“He’s basically racing against the U.S. Ski Team,” said Shep of the U.S. championships, which will be held March 27 through April 3. “Is that exciting or what?”