Wildman
Wednesday, March 9th, 2005 |  |
MCCALL, ID — Teen skiing sensation “Wildman” John Erickson shocked the nordic world with his spectacular victory in the men’s mass start 15k at USCSA Nationals today. The Swedish phenom overcame his flatland heritage to conquer the hilly Idaho course three seconds in front of his nearest competitor.
After a hectic mass start and a downhill that saw at least one race favorite have a serious crash, Erickson settled into a lead pack of four skiers with Joe Howdyshell (Wyoming), Riley Hopeman (Wyoming) and some other guy (St. Olaf’s) for the first lap of the 7.5k course. On the second lap Erickson attacked with an intensity that left his competitors gasping and his fans amazed. “I’m naming my first child ‘Wildman’ in John’s honor,” remarked Clover Whitham, after witnessing the ferocity of his skiing. Erickson, who was going one hundred percent now, on the penultimate climb, did not worry about the camera foreshortening his advantage over the chasing pack as he streaked toward the finish. He almost met with a most unfortunate incident, as a rival school had placed a series of confusing signs by the side of the trail in the hope he would mistake one for the finish line. Wildman, however, was not to be denied on this day, and lunged across the finish line to take the first individual National title for a Cornell skier in at least a decade.
“For too long, Cornell has been a group of eastern nerds, unable to compete at the highest levels of USCSA,” said Erickson after his race, “but today I have changed all that. Now Cornell nordic will be know as a group of nerds and one ridiculously good-looking nordic powerhouse.” Also available for comment on the shocking developments were his teammates. Sarah Hirsch reported that she was “so hott right now” and Andrew Courtney was unable to form any sentence that did not begin with the word “WIIIIIILDMAAAAAN.” –>