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The U.S. Powder 8 National Championships held in Jackson Hole, WY featured
the best powder skiers in the nation. In the first qualifying round, 23 teams were reduced to 16 through a judging criteria based on speed, turn shape, symmetry and synchronization.
Mukavitz's team after a harrowing first run, qualified as the last 16th team
in the first cut. It was at this time that the decision was made to throw out all the training the team had done and place Mukavitz in the harder position of follower in the synchro team. The course was the worst condition possible. Three inches of fresh snow on top of ungroomed frozen moguls and crust. Teams were falling, missing the finish and overall not finding the easy conditions usually afforded by powder skiing.
After the switch, Mukavitz and Fontecchio’s team quickly moved up in the point standings to
finish 11th and best the other team from Mammoth which previously had captured the title of California state champions in a pre-qualifier at their home mountain.
"I've skied 30 years and I've never seen conditions like that. It was like
trying to ski synchro on the hardest condition you could find. It became less about leaving powder 8's and more about straight old synchro skiing in moguls. I'd say the hardest part was the flat light. You could not see anything. If you could not feel the moguls and react accordingly, you went down. I think for next year, I'll practice blindfolded," said John Mukavitz.
As Powder champions, the team will be available for instruction and private lessons only.
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