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AVSC’s Ryan shines in Winter Park

Aspen Times staff report
Aspen, CO Colorado

WINTER PARK, Colo. – A broken arm sidelined Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club athlete Katie Ryan for nearly six weeks.

The alpine skiing standout made up for lost time in a major way this past weekend.

Ryan returned to competition in impressive fashion at the U.S. Alpine National Championships in Winter Park, logging a victory in Saturday’s junior division (19 and under) super G. The 18-year-old finished ninth overall in the one-run race in a field that included some of the U.S. Ski Team’s top competitors.



“It’s really cool to be here with the World Cup racers,” Ryan told skiracing.com. “I’ve looked up to them for a long time and obviously watching them on World Cup has been so cool. You kind of try to ski like them, and when they are right in front of you it’s like the perfect opportunity to learn. Running [15th], I just kind of tried to stay in their track.”

Added AVSC alpine coach Kent Towlerton: “She’s getting back in the saddle and getting her timing back … Having fresh legs at this point in the season probably helped, but she’s strong in speed regardless – even with a brace on her arm.”




The result assures Ryan an invitation to train with the U.S. Ski Team’s Development squad later this year.

Ryan and Towlerton now are headed to Washington and Oregon to take part in April’s Western Region Spring Series. Ryan is slated to begin training with the U.S. Ski Team on May 1 at Mammoth Mountain in California.

“Her confidence is being built back to where Katie knows she can throw down,” Towlerton said.

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