Most Extreme Elimination Challenge Nagano
Eric Bernotas and Katie Uhlaendar avoid Godzilla and manage to win the Nagano World Cup.
Like a swarm of frightened Japanese fleeing Godzilla, Eric Bernotas ran away with the race on Saturday for the third World Cup victory of his career. Eric-san’s first heat time of 54.74 earned him a new track record, while current world cup leader Zach Lund took the silver over Masaru Inada. Inada’s second heat downtime of 55.44 (fastest of the heat) promoted him 7 spots for a bronze medal finish. Heavy snow plagued Chris Hedquist and Caleb Smith as they slid to 9th and 13th places respectively. Despite such unfortunate circumstances, they both insist they “Likey the track long time” and for “15 dollar, give it every-ting” next time they compete there.
On the women’s side, Katie Uhlaendher won her 4th straight World Cup this season. The silver medal went to the “Thunder from down under”, Michelle Steele, who edged 3rd place finisher Courtney Yamada-san by .08 seconds. In 6th was Noelle Pikus Pace, followed in 12th by Bree Boyer Schaaf.
The team will now travel back to the United States, hop on a bus to Canada, fly back to Japan, swim to mainland Asia, pick up some Cambodian orphans, drop off the Cambodian orphans in Hollywood, take a steamboat to Africa, build a house in Kenya, and finally arrive in Igls, Austria in time for 2 practice heats, exhausted and wondering who booked these ridiculous plane tickets. “Don’t worry guys!” an anonymous source told us. “I hear it’s a driver’s track!!”.
The World Cup circuit continues next week in Igls Austria.