Hanging with BoarderXers Graham Watanabe and Callen Chythlook-Sifsof

Jan 26 2007 / Aspen, CO I talked to Graham just after his first qualifying run in the border cross event.  Graham posted a super fast time that put him in 7th place overall and qualified him for the rounds tomorrow.  Here’s what he had to say.

So how was your run?

It was pretty decent.  I didn’t have one complete training run, so I was a touch nervous going into it.  I definitely remembered the course and was able to accommodate and my board was fast, so I had fun.

So you qualified for tomorrow’s rounds for sure?

Yeah.  I don’t have to take a 2nd run.  I qualified fast enough and I believe I’m sitting 7th right now, so I’m in a good spot for tomorrow.

So what about this final jump that everyone’s crashing on?  Did they change it?

Yeah, they brought the take off of the jump back a few meters and so it’s a little bit longer, but the trajectory doesn’t kick you very high.  So it’s a little tricky to match transitions and it’s really easy to either overshoot or catch the knuckle and bounce down the landing.

I’ve seen a bunch of guys come sliding through the finish line on their backs.

Yeah, it’s tricky, but I like the technical aspect of it.  So for tomorrow, I just need to get the physio working on my ankles and my hips.  I torqued myself pretty good in training, so I just want to make sure I’m feeling good and can have that mental strength as well.

So your ankles, your wrist, your hips and you can’t see straight because you have a concussion?

I can see straight though!  I passed all the physio’s tests otherwise they wouldn’t have let me ride at all?

So like a drunk test where you have to touch your nose?

I had to look them in the eye and remember three words, errand, fish and giraffe, so I’ve still got them!  Hopefully I still remember them tomorrow.

A brief conversation with Callen Chythlook-Sifsof in the athletes lounge after she qualified for the rounds tomorrow.

So coming from Alaska, this must feel super warm to you.

No Alaska’s actually pretty warm.

You’re 17 years old.  Is this your first X-Games?

No this is actually my 2nd time here.  I was 4th place today in the qualifiers and hopefully I can keep that up.   The run felt really awesome.  I think I definitely can take the last jump a little better.  I kind of bounced on it, but it was a good run.  I like the course.

How long have you been racing snowboards?

4 or 5 years, I think!  I was 11th last year and the strategy for tomorrow is to hold my line and try not to get affected by other racers.  I just want to race my own race.

So who are you looking out for tomorrow?

ummm, just myself.  I just want to go as fast as I can!

--Rebecca Rusch