Kendahl Roufa Picture: Skapare Pictures & Camden Palmquist Picture: U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Two Individuals make their World Cup debuts at Levi.
When World Cup SL season kicks off this weekend, the highlight might be on Mikaela Shiffrin closing in on her a hundredth World Cup win, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen making his SL return, and all of the gamers battling for the coveted reindeer.
With a lot much less fanfare, close to the top of the pack, two Individuals will make their World Cup debuts. Each earned begins for the 2024-25 World Cup SL tour by way of the NorAms. Kendahl Roufa completed third within the 2023-24 NorAm SL standings because the second North American, whereas Camden Palmquist completed second within the SL standings as the primary North American.
Roufa is an unbiased racer who trains with Apex2100’s postgraduate program. Palmquist is beginning his fourth 12 months on the Stifel US Ski Workforce.
WORLD CUP DREAMS:
When Kendahl Roufa stumbled throughout her aim sheet from age 14, it stated, “Race the Levi World Cup.” The Telluride native laughs about that now as a result of she had lengthy since dismissed the aim as a pipe dream. After a sluggish begin to her FIS profession resulting from accidents and two hole years with Ski Membership Vail put up highschool, she determined to maneuver on and was excited to ski for Colby School.
Nonetheless, this thought saved bugging her: “For those who go to Europe and throw your self in, you’ll discover out in case you truly wish to do it or not.” After one time period at Colby, she rejoined her coach, Andrew Keating, who by then labored for Apex2100 teaching their PG program.
One season stretched into two, and final season Roufa additionally hit the complete block of jap NorAms and the NorAm finals. Roufa had secured a World Cup SL begin for this season when the sequence wrapped up in Panorama. It was an sudden bonus. “The World Cup spot was not on my thoughts,” says Roufa
She determined to make use of the chance for the expertise and already had a workforce of friends at Apex2100. Two ladies from Apex—Dženifera Gērmane and Reece Bell—are full-time on the World Cup, however Roufa is a part of a Europa Cup centered group. The workforce relies in Italy and consists of ladies from small nations like Kazakhstan, Latvia, Hungary and the Netherlands. Roufa enjoys the cross-cultural expertise of attending to know athletes from non-Alpine nations. “Hungary was by no means actually high of the thoughts after I considered European ski racing, and I believe it’s actually particular to see that each nation sort of has their very own snowboarding fashion, their very own work ethic.” She enjoys studying from all of them.
MENTAL APPROACH
Getting into your first World Cup beginning gate is a big second. Alex Tilly gave her some recommendation for Saturday. The previous British World Cup skier works with a number of the youthful Apex women and suggested Roufa to soak within the second: “You’re by no means going to have one other first World Cup.” Tilly urged Roufa to disregard the hoopla and ski like she is aware of how and “give weight to the feelings you’re feeling.”
Roufa plans to totally take Tilly’s recommendation: “It’s an excellent low-pressure zone as a result of I don’t have the burden of the world’s eyes on me. I simply get to exit and have enjoyable and see what occurs.”
Along with the race itself, Roufa is wanting ahead to her dad and mom being there. “Simply speaking to them on the telephone, I can hear the joy of their voices,” she says. “So I believe that’ll be actually particular.” She’s having fun with the northern lights, spectacular sunsets, scrumptious tacos, and looking out ahead to a Santa sighting and a few extra reindeer time. “I’m sort of greatly surprised each time I see the reindeer,” says Roufa. “I’m like, ‘Wait, you guys are actual?’”
A profitable day might be placing a run down that she could be happy with that “represents good fundamentals, good techniques, good motion—simply good primary snowboarding,” she says. That, and sending it: “It’s not simply to get to the end line.” She’ll even be fueled by the truth of a dream come true. “I by no means thought this is able to occur, however I simply saved my head down and I simply sort of saved doing what I believed I wanted to do.”
STEPPING UP TO THE BIG LEAGUES
On Sunday, it’s Camden Palmquist’s flip to push out of his first World Cup gate. For the 21-year-old Stifel US C Workforce member, incomes the World Cup begin was a part of his plan. “That undoubtedly was the aim for final season,” says Palmquist. Along with a win and two podiums on the NorAm tour, Palmquist additionally scored bronze medals within the US Nationwide Champs Sl and the World Junior Workforce parallel. He considers the latter a spotlight of his younger profession. “This season, the main target might be on Europe Cups—combating for podiums and snowboarding on that degree. Once I’m snowboarding effectively, and when it really works within the schedule, I’ll do World Cups.”
Earlier than becoming a member of Workforce Summit in CO, Palmquist began his racing profession in Buck Hill. From age 10, he dreamed of racing within the World Cup and had loads of Buck Hill position fashions to comply with. “I’ve at all times been sort of chasing Isaiah Nelson round and making an attempt to maintain up with him.” Like so many Buck Hill alums, Palmquist will proceed to pursue a number of occasions, as will his cohort of YOB 2003’s on the C Workforce. They journey with GS and Tremendous G skis all season. “We’re all coaching as a bunch, and we’re all nonetheless making an attempt to struggle for a number of disciplines and to be good all-around skiers.”
He got here to Levi from a coaching session in Val Senales, Italy. Regardless of near-freezing temperatures, the coaching has been wonderful. Throughout his downtime, Palmquist retains up along with his schoolwork on the College of Colorado Boulder, the place he’s midway by way of his faculty diploma. After the World Cup, he and his group will keep in Levi, the place they are going to kick off the Europa Cup season.
GAME DAY APPROACH AND GOALS
Palmquist is retaining expectations in examine and is hoping to maintain it easy on race day. “It’s nonetheless red-blue, and also you’re nonetheless making the identical turns. I’ve completed that loads, and I understand how to do this, so it’s actually simply sort of making an attempt to take away myself from the race atmosphere and make it extra simply snowboarding, regular race.”
His mother and youthful brother Trevor might be readily available to observe. His youthful brother Jevin, a brand new member of the US Ski Workforce and aspiring World Cup skier, might be taking notes. “Clearly, I’d like outcomes, but when I simply exit and ski like I understand how to and simply actually go for it, I believe these will come. Hopefully, I can throw one down. It’s gonna be enjoyable. I’m actually wanting ahead to it.”
