Puckett Fourth in Sweden SX
Casey Puckett (Aspen, CO) filed away his second fourth-place finish of the season Tuesday in a ski cross World Cup in Sweden. The event, which was won by Lars Lewen of Sweden, was the last World Cup for the ski cross athletes before they head to FIS Freestyle World Championships in Japan.
"Casey skied really well. He made some really amazing passes in the finish stretch," U.S. Ski Cross Head Coach Tyler Shepherd said. "A couple of the other guys did it throughout the day, but Casey had probably some of the most spectacular passes."
According to Shepherd, one of Puckett's passes was the most amazing of the day.
"In the quarterfinal he got pinched in the start and was fourth going through the top," Shepherd said. "So, he came into the bottom section and got the draft and was like a rocket ship going through into the finish jump."
But, in the final round, Puckett was pinched out once again, only to crash and end up fourth.
Ophelie David of France won the women's competition. No U.S. women competed.
For Shepherd, the course in Sweden was particularly unique in comparison to what the Team is used to racing on.
"The course was pretty neat. This was a track that they built into the natural terrain of the mountain, so they had dug it out a little bit in a similar way to what they would do with a halfpipe," Puckett said.
Now, the ski cross squad heads to Inawashiro, Japan, for World Championships March 2-8.
"I think Casey is getting anxious for that win. He hasn't had it all year and he's due - he's knocking on the door," Shepherd said. "Everyone is excited to get to Japan and see what that course has to offer."
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2009 FIS FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
Branaes, Sweden - Feb. 24, 2009
Ski Cross
Men
1. Lars Lewen, Sweden
2. Christopher DelBosco, Canada
3. Michael Schmid, Switzerland
4. Casey Puckett, Aspen, CO
5. Tomas Kraus, Czech Republic
Women
1. Ophelie David, France
2. Karin Huttary, Austria
3. Ashleigh McIvor, Canada
4. Magdalena Iljans, Sweden
5. Meryl Boulangeat, France
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Puckett Fourth in Sweden SX
