Prymak and Wallasch Lead U.S. In Skicross
SOLITUDE, UT (Jan. 20, 2017) – It was Canadian domination on the skicross course at Friday’s Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Solitude Mountain Resort. The Americans skied well though, and Tania Prymak (Goshen, NY) took a win in the small final, finishing fifth overall. Tyler Wallasch (Mammoth Lakes, CA) was the top finisher for the American men, skiing his way to a seventh-place finish. Prymak and Wallasch also won this season's national titles for skicross.
The Canadian women swept the podium: Marielle Thompson took the win, Brittany Phelan was second and India Sherret was third. They also took two of the top three spots for the men: David Duncan took the win and Brady Leman was third, while Armin Niederer of Switzerland was second.
Tania Prymak and Tyler Wallasch collect national titles for skicross. (U.S. Snowboarding)
The course was in excellent condition and well-liked by the skicross athletes, but a tough weather day with varying conditions made it hard to gauge speed. “Today was really a mixed bag with this weather,” Prymak said after the race. “(It was) dumping snow in the beginning, it cleared up, and then as we were coming out for heats it looked like sunshine but now it’s snowing. It’s a big adjustment trying to figure out what to do on the course.”
Prymak is in the midst of a break-out season, having already posted the two best World Cup finishes ever by an American skicross woman (seventh at both Innichen and Arosa in December). “I’m trying to stay focused on just skiing better,” Prymak said after the race. “I know that the better I am, the results will follow.”
Wallasch, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in March of 2016, was happy with his seventh-place finish. “Obviously I want to win,” Wallasch said, “but coming back from injury, the goal has been delayed...I have to take it a little slower (but) the goal still remains the same: win races and try to get an Olympic medal.”
Tyler Wallasch leads his heat in the Grand Prix. (U.S. Snowboarding)
Also making the final brackets for the U.S. in skicross at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix: Whitney Gardner (South Lake Tahoe, CA) was sixth; Leah Emaus (Ontario, NY) was seventh and Mazie Hayden (Pittsfield, VT) was eighth.
Solitude is an elite venue for both the 2017 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and the upcoming 2019 World Championships. This week’s event is the first international event staged at the Utah resort, and serves as the official test event for the World Championships.
Action will continue from Solitude on Saturday with a FIS World Cup snowboardcross event. Watch for Americans Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton, VT) and Hagan Kearney (Telluride, CO) to lead the charge against an international field. The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN along with live streaming of the finals on nbcsports.com and on the NBC Sports LiveExtra app.
Whitney Gardner skis in the small final. (U.S. Snowboarding)
Highlights
- U.S. skicross athlete Tania Prymak was fifth, taking the win in the small final.
- U.S. skicross athlete Tyler Wallasch was seventh, the top U.S. finisher for the men.
- The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Solitude continues Saturday with snowboardcross finals followed by a snowboardcross team event on Sunday.
Quotes
Tania Prymak
Racing back in the states is amazing. I’ve been in Europe all the beginning part of the season and it’s good to be on home soil again. Today was really a mixed bag with this weather—dumping snow in the beginning, cleared up, then as we were coming out for heats, it looked like sunshine and now it’s snowing. It’s a big adjustment trying to figure out what to do on the course. I’m trying to stay focused on just skiing better. I know that the better I am, the results will follow.
Tyler Wallasch
It’s been amazing. The last time I was here was 2013, the year before the last Olympics. It’s been a long time away from home. It was almost foreign to come back, but having my family here and friends was awesome. I’m coming back from injury this season so it’s been a tough season at the World Cup level, but it’s nice to come home and get in the heats and racing like I know I can. Still some ways to go but I know I can do it.
Obviously I want to win, but coming back from injury, the goal has been delayed. It’s been more set around my recovery and not just going out every day and sending it to try and win. I have to take it a little slower (but) the goal still remains the same: win races and try to get an Olympic medal.
Tyler Wallasch throws a trick over the last jump. (U.S. Snowboarding)
Whitney Gardner
This course was absolutely perfect. Nick Roma (the course builder) did an awesome job—we really couldn’t have asked for a better course or a better situation here at Solitude. The girls were sending it – the Canadians were out for blood. All of us American girls were battling it out in the small final for the national title. Tania skied great; she’s been skiing well all season. I’m proud to call her my teammate, super stoked for her.
I’m super glad to be back. I’m feeling good, I’m healthy, so that’s all I could really ask for.
LIVE STREAMING AND BROADCAST (times EST)
Live streaming is available on nbcsports.com/live or via the NBC Sports App
Sunday, Jan. 22
3:00 p.m. Men’s and women’s snowboardcross (NBC)
5:30 p.m. Men’s and women’s snowboardcross (NBCSN)
Saturday, Jan. 28
1:00 p.m. Team snowboardcross and skicross highlights (NBC)
2017 TOYOTA U.S. GRAND PRIX AT SOLITUDE SCHEDULE
(Schedule subject to change)
Saturday, Jan. 21
snowboardcross finals
Sunday, Jan. 22
snowboardcross team event training and finals