Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

FREESTYLE SKIING

March 10

Dedication starts to pay

15-year-old Waterville native to compete in Junior Olympics

By Travis Lazarczyk tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Things are moving quickly for Alex Jenson. The 15-year-old Waterville native is nearing the end of her first year as a student at Carrabassett Valley Academy, and this month she's reaping the benefits of her new dedication to freestyle skiing.

Last weekend at Stratton, Vt., Jenson won the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Eastern Freestyle Division Championships dual moguls competition. Jenson also placed fifth in singles moguls. The win sealed Jenson an invitation to the national championships later this month at Squaw Valley, Calif.

Before heading to the national championships, which are March 25-28, Jenson will compete this weekend at the Junior Olympics in Waterville Valley, N.H.

Prior to this winter, Jenson's training and competition was limited mostly to weekends. Last year, Jenson enrolled at Carrabassett Valley Academy as a winter term student.

"I knew if I wanted to get far in the skiing world, I had to up what I was doing," said Jenson, who is also a freshman at Waterville Senior High School. "CVA was the best place to do that."

The new focus on training paid off immediately.

"Alex has made incredible strides in her first season with us. Physically strong and mentally prepared for every practice and competition, she is one of the most coachable kids that I've ever trained," said Ron DiGravio, CVA's head mogul coach. "Competing against the top female mogul athletes of the East and winning Easterns as a freshman is a real testimony to her future potential."

Jenson felt like she had strong training runs on the rutty course and said her confidence increased as she worked her way through the dual moguls competition. In the finals, her opponent fell.

"I knew I just had to make a clean run," Jenson said.

Jenson has been a freestyle skier since she was 8, but it's her experience in another sport that's paying off now.

"I started with gymnastics, and that's helped me in the air with skiing," Jenson said.

Her favorite trick is the backflip, Jenson said.

"I like the feeling of being in the air and knowing where I am, and landing it," Jenson said.

Winning at Easterns not only ensured Jenson a spot in the Nationals, but it also gives her the opportunity to compete at next December's U.S. Selections. There, the top mogul skiers from the country compete for a spot on the U.S. Ski Team. Strong runs at Nationals and Selections would give Jenson the chance to compete on the North American (NorAm) circuit.

When she returns from the U.S. Nationals, Jenson will head back to Waterville High, where she plans on joining the track and field team. Jenson looks at her first national championships as a chance to learn and improve her skiing.

"I just want to lay down a good run and do my best," Jenson said.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com