Adventures of a Skeleton Slider - Year 3

Well, it all comes down to this.  This is pretty much going to be my last chance to qualify for U.S. National's, because I can read the writing on the wall which says that more people keep picking up this sport, and they're younger, stronger, and faster than I am.  I may be able to drive relatively well, but I just don't have the time to devote to training (both on and off the track) that will get me to that next level.

Another crappy start in the first run - 5.15 put me in 11th.  With a slow track (it warmed up and snowed a little overnight), building up speed quickly, and then holding on to it, is extremely important.  Some guys, like Chad and Adam Donohoo, drive well enough to overcome their slow starts, but I just haven't gotten to that point yet.

The racing was really amazing today -- in the first run, Jason Askins and Adam Ohlinger tied for first, with Donahoo 0.01 behind.  Fifth and Sixth were only 0.02 apart, and I was an eyeblink ahead of Brandon - 53.86 to 53.87.  Anything could happen in the second run, there could be a lot of movement in the standings.

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough movement to help me out.  Brandon and I ended up tied for 11th overall as his second run was 0.01 faster than mine.  Officially I was ranked higher because I had the fastest time of our two runs, but the reward of being the highest ranked club slider was small consolation for me.

Even if Chad and Jason hadn't competed, I still would have only finished 9th, which would have left me out of Nationals again.  Basically, I held the same spot that I finished in the year before, while eight new people leapfrogged me (Vanderhoven and Ohlinger beat me last year as well).

Here are the final standings for the three seeding races.  Points are given as follows: 400 for 1st, 380 for 2nd, 360 for 3rd, etc.  Plus, "speed points" are awarded for each race, 1 point for every 0.10 faster than the average of the top 20 times.

1.  Jason Askins - 1239

2. Chad Omweg - 1219

3. Adam Ohlinger - 1176

4. Adam Donahoo - 1074

5. Greg Bargo - 938

6. John Bagley - 917

7. Jason Vanderhoven - 853

8. Tim O'Mara - 848

9. Jeremy White - 755

10. Crest Simeon - 690

11. Ori Hoffer - 626

12. Brandon Bargo - 561

13. Alex Hedquist - 420

13. Allen Blackwell - 420

15. Gary Peterson - 380

16. Charlie Brennan - 280

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