Van Der Klooster Wins Mono Skier X at Winter X Games 12

Jan 27 2008 / Aspen, CO

Last year's bronze medalist in the Mono Skier X event, Kees-Jan van der Klooster, had a comfortable lead going into the finish at today's Mono Skier X final.  He had no need to go big off the kicker, the massive final jump of the course.

Did he play it safe?  Absolutely not.  And the crowd went crazy.

Van der Klooster got huge amplitude off the kicker and soared his way to victory, taking gold in Mono's second year as a medaled event at the ESPN Winter X Games.

Mono Skier X features the top disabled mono skiers in the world weaving their way through the fast and furious Skier X course.

"This is great," van der Klooster said after the race.  "I came all the way from Holland. Taking a medal here in between 11 American guys, I'm so stoked."

About his decision to hit the kicker hard, van der Klooster said, "I knew the entire way I was gonna hit that thing.  I can't believe I landed it so well."

Silver medalist Tyler Walker, representing Franconia, N.H., was in high spirits after the race.  "We truly feel like equals here," he said.

"Being on television is the best possible thing for the sport," van der Klooster added.  "For an adaptive sport to be introduced at an able-bodied competition is incredible."

MONO SKIER X FINAL
Results from Aspen/Snowmass on Sunday, January 27, 2008

Name / Bib No. / Hometown / Score
Final:

1. Kees-Jan van der Klooster / 870 / Vlissingen, Netherlands / 117.777
2. Tyler Walker / 871 / Fanconia, N.H. / 121.520
3. Chris Devlin-Young / 855 / Campton, N.H. / 161.619 /
4. Kevin Bramble / 851    Cape May Court / House, N.J. / 244.537

Consolation:

5. Gerald Hayden / 866 / Winter Park, Colo. / 122.879
6. Carl Burnett / 853 / Winter Park, Colo. / 123.311
7. Sam Ferguson / 865 / Aspen, Colo. / 153.997
8. Scotty Meyer / 867 / Frisco, Colo. / 170.919