Just days after concluding a grueling World Cup snowboard season in which she traveled all over the planet, Alaska Native 22-year-old Callan Chythlook-Sifsof was already making plans for 2012.
"I can't wait for next year," she said. "I want to step it up a little bit."
That's funny because Chythlook-Sifsof stepped on the competition this season en route to having her best season as a professional.
The gutsy girl with an easy smile capped the World Cup season recently in Arosa, Switzerland, with a career-best silver medal run in the thrilling bumper-car style race known as women's boardercross.
"Everything completely clicked," she said. "That's the best result I've had in my career so far; well, the X Games was right up there."
Chythlook-Sifsof, of Dillingham fame, won her first qualifying heat and was runner-up in the semifinals to punch her ticket to the World Cup finals, where she finished second in the competitive field of six riders. World Cup races normally have only four riders, but organizers used the six-rider format to mirror other major competitions like the X Games.
"That was really exciting," she said. "I think that's a fun format."
Her second-place finish in Switzerland was one of five top-10 finishes in eight starts on the World Cup tour, which features only the very best riders. She also finished second at the X Games and was third at another major event in Telluride.
Overall, Chythlook-Sifsof ranked No. 5 in the world and No. 2 in the United States.
"This has been a phenomenal season," she said.
Two years ago she tore the ACL in her left knee, a devastating injury that sidelined her for the rest of the season. But thanks to sweat, sacrifice and hard work Chythlook-Sifsof battled back.
Last year she went to the Winter Olympics.
This year she finished fifth in the world.
"It feels really good," she said. "I began my career on the podium and after that injury ... it was kind of difficult (to get back), so hopefully this starts me off strong for next year and I can build on it."
In Switzerland, Chythlook-Sifsof grabbed the hole shot in the finals heading into the first turn going head-to-head with the eventual winner, Alexandra Jekova of Bulgaria. Jekova made her move through the pump section to take the lead, holding it through the rest of the course.
"I was a little bit passive on the course to preserve my second place," she said.
Still, she was happy with her ability to gain the lead from the start during the three races, something she has struggled with in the past. In fact, she called it the weakest part of her game.
"I think getting out in front immediately did me a lot of good," Chythlook-Sifsof said. "I want to keep working on my starts because it makes a big difference."
This report is posted with permission from Alaska Newspapers Inc., which publishes six weekly community newspapers, a statewide shopper, a statewide magazine and slate of special publications that supplement its products year-round.