http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100317/SPORTS/3170321
Published March 17, 2010 in the Rutland Herald
Olympic dreaming
Springfield's Brown is off to the Nationals
BY TOM HALEY STAFF WRITER
Fifteen-year-old Connor Brown had one of those exhilarating moments you don't forget. It was as though he scratched the winning lottery ticket, aced the test and found extra money in the bank account, all in one doctor's visit.
Brown, a snowboarder from Springfield, went into the doctor's office last Friday with a broken wrist hoping to get clearance to compete in the USASA National Championships at Copper Mountain in Colorado.
He has qualified in three events: boardercross, giant slalom and slalom.
The doctor gave him the news he was desperate to hear: He will be going to those national championships, April 3-9.
"I was excited and relieved," Brown said, who broke the wrist while training.
The emotion was some different than the one he brought with him to the doctor.
"I was kind of nervous, thinking I might not be able to go," the Vermont Academy student said.
The journey began long ago. He received a plastic snowboard when he was 5 years old. When he was 7 he told his father he wanted to take a lesson.
"I began racing at 10 or 11," Brown said.
And he raced quickly to the top.
This year he has entered 12 series events and made the podium in all of them. Four times the color of the medal was gold.
He won the Southern Vermont championship in boardercross and was runner-up in the giant slalom and slalom.
Boardercross, which received plenty of attention at the recent Olympic Games, is his favorite event.
"It gives me the most thrills," he said.
He has adjusted his goals in Colorado due to his injury.
"At first my goal was to get on the podium. But since I broke my wrist, I just want to do my best," Brown said.
"Last year I was 12th in boardercross (at the national championship) and this year I would like to get a top 10."
He believes his experience of going to the national event in 2009 can only help this time, especially because last season's national championship was also held at Copper Mountain.
"I have a year of experience and I know a lot about what to expect," Brown said.
The wrist is not the only injury he has suffered recently. He also endured a mild concussion and he is well aware of the serious head injury suffered this season by fellow Vermont elite snowboarder Kevin Pearce.
"I have a sticker on my helmet that says 'We Ride for Kevin,'" Brown said.
He played football this freshman year for the Vermont Academy Wildcats. He was a wide receiver and played linebacker and corner on defense.
"Football got me into really good shape and really helped me," he said.
He trains at Stratton and feels that has benefited him greatly.
"It's very intense training there," Brown said.
Stratton Mountain head snowboard coach Al Messler said much of that intensity in Brown's case comes from within.
"He is one of the nicest, hardest working kids we have on our team," Messler said. "He shows up every practice to work hard at this.
"I expect him to be in the top five.
"He has got an awful lot of talent and an awful lot of desire. I say that he trains like he competes and he competes like he trains. He's just a great, hard-working Vermont kid."
He would like to follow Stratton Mountain School products like Lindsey Jacobellis, Andy Newell, Louie Vito, Kendall Brown and Kris Freeman into the Olympics.
"That's my long term goal," Brown said.
And watching the recent games from Vancouver only fueled that desire.
"It makes you want it more," he said.
John Kelly, his coach at Vermont Academy, wouldn't bet against Brown with his Olympic dream.
"I think he can take it as far as he wants to. I think the sky is the limit," Kelly said.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100317/SPORTS/3170321
Olympic dreaming
Springfield's Brown is off to the Nationals
BY TOM HALEY STAFF WRITER
Fifteen-year-old Connor Brown had one of those exhilarating moments you don't forget. It was as though he scratched the winning lottery ticket, aced the test and found extra money in the bank account, all in one doctor's visit.
Brown, a snowboarder from Springfield, went into the doctor's office last Friday with a broken wrist hoping to get clearance to compete in the USASA National Championships at Copper Mountain in Colorado.
He has qualified in three events: boardercross, giant slalom and slalom.
The doctor gave him the news he was desperate to hear: He will be going to those national championships, April 3-9.
"I was excited and relieved," Brown said, who broke the wrist while training.
The emotion was some different than the one he brought with him to the doctor.
"I was kind of nervous, thinking I might not be able to go," the Vermont Academy student said.
The journey began long ago. He received a plastic snowboard when he was 5 years old. When he was 7 he told his father he wanted to take a lesson.
"I began racing at 10 or 11," Brown said.
And he raced quickly to the top.
This year he has entered 12 series events and made the podium in all of them. Four times the color of the medal was gold.
He won the Southern Vermont championship in boardercross and was runner-up in the giant slalom and slalom.
Boardercross, which received plenty of attention at the recent Olympic Games, is his favorite event.
"It gives me the most thrills," he said.
He has adjusted his goals in Colorado due to his injury.
"At first my goal was to get on the podium. But since I broke my wrist, I just want to do my best," Brown said.
"Last year I was 12th in boardercross (at the national championship) and this year I would like to get a top 10."
He believes his experience of going to the national event in 2009 can only help this time, especially because last season's national championship was also held at Copper Mountain.
"I have a year of experience and I know a lot about what to expect," Brown said.
The wrist is not the only injury he has suffered recently. He also endured a mild concussion and he is well aware of the serious head injury suffered this season by fellow Vermont elite snowboarder Kevin Pearce.
"I have a sticker on my helmet that says 'We Ride for Kevin,'" Brown said.
He played football this freshman year for the Vermont Academy Wildcats. He was a wide receiver and played linebacker and corner on defense.
"Football got me into really good shape and really helped me," he said.
He trains at Stratton and feels that has benefited him greatly.
"It's very intense training there," Brown said.
Stratton Mountain head snowboard coach Al Messler said much of that intensity in Brown's case comes from within.
"He is one of the nicest, hardest working kids we have on our team," Messler said. "He shows up every practice to work hard at this.
"I expect him to be in the top five.
"He has got an awful lot of talent and an awful lot of desire. I say that he trains like he competes and he competes like he trains. He's just a great, hard-working Vermont kid."
He would like to follow Stratton Mountain School products like Lindsey Jacobellis, Andy Newell, Louie Vito, Kendall Brown and Kris Freeman into the Olympics.
"That's my long term goal," Brown said.
And watching the recent games from Vancouver only fueled that desire.
"It makes you want it more," he said.
John Kelly, his coach at Vermont Academy, wouldn't bet against Brown with his Olympic dream.
"I think he can take it as far as he wants to. I think the sky is the limit," Kelly said.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100317/SPORTS/3170321
No comments :
Post a Comment
Please keep your comments polite and on-topic. No profanity