Forty-nine year old Lynn Ott takes home her first National Title in PGS at Copper Mountain as part of the 30th Anniversary USASA Nationals.
Day two of competition at the 2019 USASA National Snowboard Championships at Copper Mountain Resort dawned sunny and cold and - save for the occasional wind gust - perfect for another full day of competition at the world’s biggest and best celebration of snowboarding.
Monday’s competition line-up was highlighted by giant slalom racing in the Open Class group, where two long-time USASA competitors earned their first Nationals titles, as Lynn Ott and Robbie Burns were both able to achieved a goal they had been chasing through a dozen (or more) Nationals showings by taking the 2019 PGS gold medals.
At 49-years-old, Ott is a force both on and off the slope, proving that age ain’t nothing but a number with her performance on Monday, while also working tirelessly behind the scenes as the head of the US Snowboard Racing Team, the number one support organization for alpine snowboarding in the States since USSA halted funding for the racers.
“The Nationals has always been amazing, but it’s always been my little nemesis” a clearly hyped Ott said just after awards, “No matter what I would do, I would either make a mistake or do something crazy and blow it for myself. But this year I was able to keep it together the entire time and I pulled it off and won the race. Winning today, it was just like…thank god, finally! Perseverance definitely pays off!”
“I’m amazed at how many kids are out here on race boards, I wish I could talk to every single one of them,” Ott went on when asked to describe what she’s hoping to accomplish with her work off the slope, “It’s just proof for anyone who’s like, ‘Oh, alpine snowboarding is dying,’ well, look at all these kids. There’s way too many kids riding alpine boards and loving every minute of it for alpine to be dying.”
Second place and the silver in the ladies’ Open group went to the USA’s current top World Cup rider Abby Champagne, while the Netherlands’ Dana Albers made her trip across the pond worthwhile with a third place finish.
Steamboat Springs’ Burns takes men’s PGS title
USA Snowboard Racing's Robbie Burns earned his first National Title surrounded by friends and family at Copper Mountain, CO.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side of things, a rider with even more National Championships starts than Ott finally scored his first win, as Robbie Burns earned top honors and the gold medal with a determined performance on the day.
“It’s a little bit like a dream,” Burns smiled, “I’ve been coming to USASA Nationals for 14 years now and this is the first time I’ve made it on to the top step and took first place, so it’s amazing. I had some of my best friends at the top of the course supporting me, and my family still here supporting me 14 years on…it’s awesome.
“There’s definitely an element of self-efficacy in my win today. That’s something that we try and instill in every kid that comes through USASA, is that belief in yourself that you can accomplish whatever you set out to. No matter where you’re at in your progression you always have the opportunity to win, and that’s maybe the funnest part about it.”
When asked to reflect upon what the USASA has meant to him throughout his snowboard career, 28-year-old Burns was unequivocal in his response.
“USASA has truly been a blessing in my life. It’s been so much fun to be a part of it ever since I was a kid. The reason this community is so great is because it’s built upon families from all across the United States. Those families make up the volunteers, they make up the coaches, they make up the directors, and when we come out to nationals we get to see that family in action. It’s built on family and the most important thing is fun, and that’s the future of our sport. Together we’re a force, and it’s just been growing. I think Chuck would be proud.”
Taking the men’s PGS silver medal was 21-year-old Dylan Udolf from West Hartford, CT, while third place went to Canada’s Jacob Farber.
