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Kaarl Damberg, Star Tribune Metro Boys' Alpine Skier of the Year

By RON HAGGSTROM, Star Tribune, 04/01/19, 4:50PM CDT

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“This definitely ranks at the top for me,” the senior said of finally winning a state title. “Everything fell right into place.”


Kaarl Damberg of Mounds View, Star Tribune Boys' Metro Alpine Skier of the Year. RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII ¥ richard.tsong-taatarii@startribune.com

Kaarl Damberg has been one of the best boys’ Alpine skiers the past three years. But ending each season on a high note was eluding him.

The Mounds View senior wasn’t thinking about the past heading into the final two runs of his prep career. He finally captured that elusive state title at Giants Ridge in Biwabik and was named the Star Tribune Metro Boys’ Alpine Skier of the Year.

“This definitely ranks at the top for me,” Damberg said. “Everything fell right into place.”

Just as he did in 2018, Damberg came out of the gates flying. He posted a time of 34.57 seconds on his first run, opening nearly a half-second lead on the next closest competitor.

“I was gunning for state this year,” Damberg said. “I didn’t have another year. There was no more second chances.”

Damberg also led the field after the first run his junior season, by just one-tenth of a second. It was his final run where the two seasons paled in comparison.

He turned in a solid technical run to post a winning time of 1:11.72, finishing 38-hundredths of a second ahead of runner-up Luke Conway of Minneapolis Washburn.

“The mental aspect of my skiing has improved the most,” Damberg said. “I finally figured out how to calm myself down before pushing out of the gate.”

A year earlier, Damberg fell on his second run and wound up 19th. He took 12th place as a sophomore.

“I choked, and fell,” Damberg said. “That was the end of it.”

Damberg has worked 16 years to get where he is today. He started skiing when he was 2 years old.

“Everything outside of school has been skiing for me. All that hard work paid off,” Damberg said. “Winning state made it worth it.”

RON HAGGSTROM

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