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Nationals await

Purgatory set to send a handful to Utah in late March

Five Purgatory Freestyle Team skiers have earned the right to compete in the upcoming U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Freestyle Junior Nationals.

Trudy Mickel, Sadie Smith, Natalie Youssef, George McQuinn and Parker Norvell will ski in the nationals March 16-22 at Park City, Utah. They are among the nation’s elite skiers 18 years old and younger. The competitors were named this week. From 48 to 60 youths will vie in each of six different disciplines.

“They’ve earned it,” said team head coach Kirk Rawles, citing the competition and the travel all season long. “It’s a great thing for the kids. It’s going to be fun.”

Mickel, just 14, had to qualify among other competitors 18 and under. At the junior nationals, however, she will compete in her U15 age group. It’s her second trip to the national meet, but this year she’s doing dual moguls as well as moguls.

“It’s a big step for a 14-year-old, competing against someone about to go to college,” Rawles said.

Mickel came off of excellent mogul and dual mogul performances on Presidents Day weekend in Telluride, where she posted eighth and two seventh overall finishes to earn invitations as a competitor in both moguls and dual moguls.

Joining Mickel will be Sadie Smith and Natalie Youssef in moguls, both making their third junior national team.

George McQuinn, who trains part time with the team, also has earned a trip to the event, posting two thirds and winning duals in Telluride. Parker Norvell qualified for the big air competition.

Also, Coleman Bader and Jimmy Pope will vie for the Rocky Mountain Junior Combined title on March 7-8 at the final divisional event in Telluride. The winner also will earn a trip to Junior Nationals. The combined title is based on best finishes from moguls/dual moguls, aerial/big air and slopestyle/halfpipe. Bader is coming off his best performance of the year, placing third both days in Telluride for U17 skiers while Pope took fifth-place honors.

Elle Duke had two solid runs in posting a career-best eighth-place finish for U17. For the Devo team, consisting of younger freestyle athletes, Nina Quayle, Freddie Mickel and Charlie Mickel all won their age groups over the weekend, with 10-year-old Charlie posting an 11th overall finish out of 36 athletes.

Cole Alexus posted seventh- and sixth-place finishes for U13, with Hunter Rawles, Aiden Quayle and Freddy Rawles ninth through 11th.

The Purgatory Freestyle Devo Team will host a Southwest Freestyle Tour mogul event Saturday and Sunday at Purgatory, starting at 10 a.m. on the Pandemonium run. Competitors will be ages 8-14.

johnp@durangoherald.com



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