The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Ian Mallams was satisfied, but that’s not going to keep him from hoping for more next time he heads to the USSA Cross-Country Junior championships.

“I had some good results, but it could have been better,” Mallams said. “The nationals always have a way of getting you excited for the next season. It makes you want to train a little harder and race a little more.”

Mallams’ 10th-place finish in the classic sprint, and a 16th in the mass start 15-kilometer classic, highlighted the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club’s showing at the 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Championships in Anchorage, Alaska. Mallams said he was on track for a better finish in the individual classic race and within reach of a top-10 finish with three kilometers to go. But he ran out of steam down the final stretch and ended up falling in the final standings.

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Coach Brian Tate said the team headed north with higher expectations, but he felt like the six members of the team that made the trip gave it everything they had during the week of racing.

“The results were not as good as we had hoped for,” Tate said. “The altitude has a definite impact on our skiers. We just have to find a way to get quicker at sea level.”

Mallams, who joined the SSWSC after moving here from Whitefish, Mont., said he felt good early in the week before he was slowed by a bad cold in the later races.

“You could feel the altitude,” Mallams said. “I’ve raced at sea-level several times, so I knew what to expect.”

Tate said with the exception of Mallams, the Steamboat skiers got off to a slow start early in the week.

In the March 10 classic sprint race, Michaela Frias placed 41st in the J-2 class. Molly Newman was 57th, Mary Rose was 58th, Melissa Krause was 66th and Sophie Leonard was 84th in the J-1 class.

The Steamboat skiers raced faster as the week progressed, Tate said. Frias was 36th in the J-2 class in the 5-kilometer interval start skate race March 12. Rose was 51st, Krause was 60th, Leonard was 64th and Newman finished 69th in the J-1 class.

Frias had her best finish of the week March 14, a 19th-place finish in the 5-kilometer mass start classic race. Newman was 40th, Rose was 47th, Krause was 55th and Leonard was 65th in the J-2 division.

“Overall, I would say it was a very positive experience,” Mallams said. “It was well run, well organized and the courses were in great shape.”

Mallams, who is 18, said he has one more shot at the junior nationals. He is hoping this year’s experience will drive him to an even more impressive showing next time around.