The Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club made waves on the national ski
scene yet again last week as two of its athletes – 17-year-old Wiley
Maple and 19-year-old Noah Hoffman – secured spots on the U.S. Ski team.
Maple, an alpine ski racer who’s season was highlighted by a 15th place
result at the World Junior Championships in Spain, was named to the
U.S. Ski Team’s Development Team, while Hoffman, who was named Ski
Racing Magazine’s Junior Nordic Skier of the Year, claimed a position
on the U.S. Nordic Team.
“We’re proud of Wiley and Noah,” said AVSC Executive Director Mark
Cole. “They’ve put in a lot of hard work to get to this point.”
But it was a combination of hard work and mental fortitude that AVSC coaches say allowed the two to achieve so much.
“(Maple) shows up and excels at the big events,” says AVSC alpine coach
Kent Towlerton. “Wiley’s got the right outlook. It’s rare to see skier
with the ability to elevate their game in high-profile, high-pressure
events. Like the great ones, Wiley wills himself to move faster.”
For Maple, making the team was made even more special as the last
alpine skiing Aspenite to do so was Jake Zamansky a decade ago.
“I wanted to make it for Aspen really badly,” he said, “since Jake was the last guy to do it. I’m also psyched for Noah.”
Hoffman’s rise to the top has been swift and to the point, taking gold
at the Owl Creek Chase, finishing third at the U.S. Supertour freestyle
race in Aspen, taking the top spot at FIS races in Crested Butte and
Winter Park, and anchoring the U.S. team to a seventh place finish at
the World Junior Championships. But even with his success, he remains
humble.
“I really wasn’t sure if I’d make the team with one year left as a
junior,” he said. “But I’m just so psyched at how everything has gone.
It’s such an honor to be on the team.”
An honor that resulted from years of hard training and sacrifice.
“Noah has given up a lot this past year and a half,” said AVSC Nordic
coach Travis Moore. “He made a tough decision and delayed going to
college to train and compete full time. He gritted it out, stuck to his
guns and being named to the team validates his decision and his
efforts.”
Consequently, the last AVSC skier to make the U.S. team was club Nordic
director John Callahan, who happens to be Hoffman’s coach.
Hoffman and Maple join AVSC snowboarder Jordie Karlinski on the U.S.
Ski Team. Former AVSC athlete and alpine ski racer Alice McKennis was
also named to the U.S. Ski team last week.
damien@aspendailynews.com.
