Four Corners Sports Magazine July 2014

2 Four Corners SportS July 2014

San Juan County Fair

SATURDAYA U G U S T

MCGEE PARKFor more information, callCindy at 505-215-1699 or Shanda at 505-215-3923.

Bring your best barbecue secrets and participate in the judging.

A panel of judges will vote on the best beef, best pork, best side dish, best beans, best sauce (with a secret ingredient), best decorations and People’s Choice.

3Four Corners SPORTSJuly 2014

content| 4 |

Jones winsA former PGA Tour player, born only a couple

years later than the inaugural event, won the

50th San Juan Open. Kent Jones, 47, from Albu-

querque nearly led wire-to-wire for a two-shot

victory over Ryan Hogue, Nick Killpack and Jake

Yonan-Wise.

| 8 |

Up, up & awayWhether it be the classic Superman line or a

Grammy Award winning classic from the 5th Di-

mension, up, up and Away was the theme of the

7th Annual San Juan River Balloon Rally last

month in Bloomfield. The Bloomfield Fiesta has

become a summer tradition bringing together

family fun with community service to put on a

first-class event.

| 13 | All-Star gamesMany of our local prep athletes have been

spending the first month of summer getting

ready for one last hurrah on the field or

court.

| 26 | Football campThis month former Piedra Vista and NFl vet-

eran Charly Martin returned to Farmington to

host his annual Charly Martin Football Acad-

emy.

Chris Harley Rupp hadn’t been on a road bike

since October 2013, when he hopped on his bicy-

cle on May 20 in Seattle, Wash., and headed out

for a cross country trek.

| 14 | Four Corners 4x4For Jason Kaminsky and Rick Jenkins – andthousands more just like them – “fun” is de-fined by a recreational off-highway vehicle, orOHV, and the challenge, competition, work anddirt that comes with it. OHVs are four-wheeledmotorized vehicles not designed for use onhighways and are capable of cross-countrytravel on land, snow, or other natural terrain.

| 18 | Running trailsWe all approach running differently. Whether

our purpose is to maintain fitness, train for

a 5k, or to compete in something as de-

manding as the Hardrock 100-mile ultra one

day, one thing that unites us as runners is

the sensation of running.

| 32 | Clash of the TitansThe strongest men and women in New Mex-

ico competed June 14 in Farmington for the

title San Juan County Strongman in the city’s

3rd annual Clash of the Titans Strongman

Competition.

| 23 | Xterra Cancelled

| 24 | We got it wrong!Yes, mistakes happen. And no matter how hardwe humans try, we all goof up from time to time.Even though we have a writer, two proofreadersand a final check of all our pages, when the mag-azine comes out we can always find somethingwrong. usually it’s just a small error that wecatch, but there was a doozy in our June FourCorners Sports magazine. We gave little KristianaWilson, age 6, a completely new last name. We feltlike it was not enough to just write a small cor-rection, so we are rerunning the story on Kris-tiana and The Force. We apologize for ourmistake and hope that now Kristiana and herfamily will keep and share this issue with pride.

| 30 | SoccerThe spring soccer season has come to a close,

but not before many area teams travelled to

distant places throughout Colorado and New

Mexico to participate in large tournament set-

tings.

| 27 | Cycling for charity

Don Vaughan

PuBlISHER

Cindy Cowan Thiele

EDITOR

Tom Yost

Rick Hoerner

Debra Mayeux

Ben Brashear

CONTRIBuTING WRITERS

Ben Brashear

Josh Bishop

CONTRIBuTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Suzanne Thurman

DESIGNER

Shelly Acosta

Clint Alexander

Aimee Velasquez

SAlES STAFF

For advertising information

Call 505.516.1230

www.fourcornerssports.com

Four Corners Sports magazine is published once amonth by Majestic Media. Material herein may not bereprinted without expressed written consent of the pub-lisher. Opinions expressed by the contributing writersare not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or FourCorners Sports magazine. Every effort has been madeto ensure the accuracy of this publication. However thepublisher cannot assume responsibility for errors orommissions. © 2014 Four Corners Sports magazine.

Majestic Media

100 W. Apache Street

Farmington, NM 87401

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STORY IDEAS and PHOTOS

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Josh Bishop

A former pGA tour player, born only a couple years later than the

inaugural event, won the 50th San Juan open. Kent Jones, 47, from

Albuquerque, nearly led wire-to-wire for a two-shot victory over ryan

Hogue, Nick Killpack and Jake Yonan-Wise.

Jones’ two-day total of 134 (-8) led after Friday’s round, but Killpack’s

5 under 66 vaulted him into the lead by 1 shot over Nick Mason and 2

over Jones heading into Sunday’s final round.

on Sunday, Jones was in total command, hitting 17 out of 18 greens

and covering the pins with precision iron shots that looked like a

professional throwing darts. With a birdie on the first, Jones gave the

stroke back by three, putting the second hole. the turning point, though,

came at the par-5 third hole.

“the third hole was the turning point in the final round,” said Jones.

“I hit two great shots on the first hole and made birdie and then hit

two really good shots on No. 2. I was pretty nervous starting out and I

three putted No. 2 from pretty close. I had been struggling with my

putting all week so it was a little shaky starting out. I hit two good shots

on No. 3 and not a great chip and then made a 10-footer for birdie. that

putt seemed to settle me down a bit and then I made some nice putts on

4, 5, 6 which really settled my round down.“


Story by Tom Yost | Josh Bishop photos

50thSan Juan Openin the books

Kent Jones wins tourney with 2-day total of 134

5Four Corners SPOrTSJuly 2014

The final round 68 was a clinic in

ball-striking by Jones, which suffo-

cated his opponents in a mistake-

free final round. Killpack’s two-shot

lead became a one-shot deficit

through the first 9 holes on Sunday

as Jones turned at 2 under par and

Killpack finished at 1 over par.

“I was really pleased with my

ball striking today,” explained

Jones. “I hit it really good all week.

I was really shaky on the greens,

but these greens will do that to

you. Once I saw where the pins

were today, I knew there weren’t

going to be really low scores. I

thought the pins were really diffi-

cult today and it was tough to

make a lot of birdies today.”

”I thought shooting 4 or 5 under

today would be tough to beat,” said

Killpack. “I just didn’t drive it like I

had driven it the first three rounds.

I put myself in the rough. I actually

putted pretty decent to get it

around in even par. I played from

out of position all day and the first

three rounds I only missed three

fairways.”

Even with Killpack’s second

place finish, he left the San Juan

Country Club encouraged by his

play.

“I am pleased with my finish just

because I haven’t been playing in

many tournaments,” explained Kill-

pack.

“I am a little disappointed in how

I held up under pressure. But I am

so happy with how I am hitting it

that it will come with experience. I

just have to get in contention more

to handle the nerves a little bit bet-

ter.”

The other story of the 50th San

Juan Open was the attempt to

bring back past champions and

players from the last half century.

“We had the past champions din-

ner,” said San Juan Open Commit-

tee Member George Walters. “We

only had six past champions, which

was a little disappointing, but that

night was an absolute blast.

One of the past players that

came back for this year’s open was

former PGA Tour Player and

current Golf Channel announcer,

Notah Begay.

6 Four Corners SPORTS July 2014

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Begay made the cut and fin-

ished the tournament in 23rd

place at 3-over par.

When asked why he contin-

ues to come back to the San

Juan Open, his response hit

home as to why the event is so

special to all those involved.

“It’s a great event based on

right things,” said Begay. “They

have given a tremendous

amount of money to charity and

the event is grounded in com-

munity. The members are in-

volved … the local businesses

are involved. They get a lot of

strong volunteers. Being able to

come back here is a lot of fun

for me.”

“The golf course is challeng-

ing,” continued Begay. “The golf

course doesn’t favor the long

hitters or the short hitters. It

challenges every aspect of your

game, and for a course that

isn’t very long on the scorecard

you would be surprised at how

hard it is.”

Past San Juan Open Champions were on hand for the 50th anniversary tournament. Past winners include, from

left, Ryan Hogue, Terry Dear, Ryan Dillon, Mark Pelletier, Scotty Gates and Woody Dame.


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And while a comeback into the world of competitive golf isn’t on his list

of things to accomplish, Begay is very happy with where he is at the

present moment.

“I am very content right now. I

have two small kids that I adore and

want to spend as much time as I can

with them. Golf is not really a prior-

ity in my life right now and is indica-

tive of my play. I am just two months

removed from my heart attack and I

have lost a lot of yardage. I would be

on the short end of the distance

spectrum on the PGA Tour. So it is

not on my short list of things to do.”

With the 50th San Juan Open in

the books, the page turns towards

the 51st playing in 2015. Randy Kahn,

San Juan Country Club General

Manager, keeps looking for ways to

improve upon the past events.

“We just want to keep improving it,” explained Kahn. “We want to make

the next better than the last.”

“I thought the 50th went awesome,” continued Kahn. “The overall com-

ments from the pros were very positive. I thought the 50th – it went really

well. A lot of pros are going to come back unless they make it to the next

level, which we hope is the case.

Notah Begay

Whether it be the classic Superman line or a Grammy Award winning

classic from the 5th Dimension, Up, Up and Away was the theme of the 7th

Annual San Juan river Balloon rally last month in Bloomfield. the Bloom-

field Fiesta has become a summer tradition bringing together family fun

with community service to put on a first-class event.

Although nowhere near the size of the famous Albuquerque Balloon Fi-

esta, Bloomfield has become a home away from home for the Albuquerque-

based Kaleidoscope balloon team of ray and Carol Bair. Kaleidoscope has

been a regular in Bloomfield, joining 14 other teams for this year’s events

that included a mass ascension and a balloon glow.

the city of Bloomfield has taken on the task of making the balloon fiesta a

successful event. From the Latter Day Saints Church to the Bloomfield Bob-

cats football team, the city helps balloon crews get ready to fly and land

safely. the city provides free propane to fiesta participants and makes sure

the balloonists are taken care of, with their only expenses being the cost to

get to Bloomfield.

the transportation of the balloon itself is a massive undertaking. A bal-

loon team takes as much as a half hour to get set up. outside of the balloon


Story by Rick Hoerner | Josh Bishop photos

San Juan RiverBalloon Rally

brings in 14 teams

9Four Corners SpoRTSJuly 2014

and the transportation basket there is the fan

used initially to blow up the balloon and propane

tanks for lifting the balloon once it’s filled while

on the ground.

An important part of the Bair’s Kaleidoscope

team is the chase crew that helps keep the loca-

tion of the balloon and helps the balloon land.

For the Bairs, the crew is usually local volun-

teers assigned to their team, who have at least

some measure of the local roads and geography.

While Ray pilots the balloon, he keeps in con-

tact with Carol who at times is expected not only

to drive, but to keep the balloon in her sights at

all times and guide Ray to a clear place to land,

accessible to the crew to help get the balloon

packed.

Landing the balloon itself is somewhat of an

acquired skill. The crew must anticipate where

the balloon crew plans to touch down, and then

beat them to the location. Then the crew must

make sure to catch the balloon from behind – so

as not to get run over – and then keep enough

weight and pressure on the basket to keep it

from taking off again.

Ray and Carol have been ballooning for going

on 35 years now, and consider it more of a

lifestyle than a hobby.

The Bairs are familiar and friendly with

other crews and have traveled across North

America flying their balloon with the friends

they have made along the way. Ray, who also

has worked for the FFA, advises cities that are

looking to add a balloon event about safety

which considers landing areas and the always

pesky power lines.

When piloting, Ray looks for wind currents

that will take him to his destination. This can be

quite tricky and sometimes difficult, forcing the

pilot to take the balloon to certain altitudes to

find the needed wind direction.

Carol compares their balloon purchase to

that of buying a car. “You can go new or used,”

she says, and can cost anywhere from $5,000 to

$20,000 for a used balloon and about $45,000 for

a new complete setup. The number of passen-

gers the basket holds is a determinant factor in

the coast; the larger the basket, the larger the

balloon and the higher the cost.

The rally continues to be a growing success

for the community, with balloons traveling down

the San Juan and glowing the night sky. The city

of Bloomfield is always looking to expand the

family event and is looking to add sponsors to

bring in more balloon crews. Any interested

party should contact the Bloomfield Chamber of

Commerce for more information.

Ray Bair

10 Four Corners SPorTS July 2014

The magic and the excitement of hot air bal-

looning was brought to life – and the big

screen – in 1956, when United Artists made a

movie of the 1873 book, Around the World in

Eighty Days, written by Jules Verne.

Today, 58 years later, the magic and the ex-

citement continues with balloon rallies

throughout the Four Corners and the Albu-

querque International Balloon Fiesta, which at-

tracts balloon enthusiasts from around the

country.

If the balloons are beautiful as they drift

silently across the early morning sky, the men

and women who pilot those balloons are pro-

fessional licensed balloon pilots. And while the

balloon rallies and fiestas continue to attract

people to the events, those who pilot the bal-

loons are dwindling.

“It’s a dying sport,” said Doug Lenberg, who

has been piloting hot air balloons for 28 years.

“There are only about 3,000 active balloon pi-

lots in the world. It’s not a big sport and young

people aren’t as interested in the sport.”

Most pilots are in their 40s and 50s, Lenberg

said, citing the fact that the sport is expensive

and young people aren’t likely to have the fi-

nancial means to become involved in the sport.

Mike Voorhees, who lives in Albuquerque,

agreed with Lenberg.

“I think it’s largely a shift in societal behav-

ior,” Voorhees said. “It’s the same thing that’s

Story by Dorothy Nobis | Josh Bishop photos

Pilots: Time, money keep young people away from sport


taking people away from golf. It takes time to

play 18 holes of golf and it takes time to do bal-

looning.”

Getting up before dawn, prepping for the

flight and the flight itself takes time, Voorhees

said. “And, it’s not a solo sport. You need a crew

to make it happen and you have to coordinate

the team on a regular basis.”

Voorhees also cited the expense of hot air bal-

looning as a reason younger people don’t em-

brace the sport. “You look at the trend of young

people today – they put off buying a new car and

home ownership because of the debt they’ve in-

curred to get an education. All of that con-

tributes to the ‘graying’ population of

ballooning.”

Voorhees has been flying for 19 years, and

even he doesn’t fly as much as he’d like. Other

activities take a priority. “I love it, though,” he

said of the sport. “It’s one of the most sublime

ways to fly. It’s gentle and you see spectacular

vistas and share them with friends and

strangers, and I love the experience of being

lighter than air.”

Whether you’re part of that “graying” popu-

lation or a young person looking for a sport

that offers excitement and the beauty that can

be enjoyed only in the basket of a hot air bal-

loon, there are things you must do before you

float into the sky.

Before one can fly a hot air balloon, he must

take training as a student pilot. To be a student

pilot, one must be at least 14 years old and have

the ability to read, write, and speak and under-

stand the English language, according to FAA

regulations. And before a student begins his stu-

dent pilot training he must have a student pilot

certificate, which is issued by FAA Examiners or

Designated Pilot Examiners.

Private pilots must be at least 16 years old

and pass a written FAA test. Commercial pilots

must pass a more advanced written test. Both

student and private pilots also must pass a flight

test.

Those who seek to be commercial pilots must

take additional training and flight testing. As

with most licenses, the training and testing

comes at a cost.

“There are several flight schools in Albu-

querque,” Lenberg said. “You can get through

the training, including ground school, in about

two weeks, if the weather is good (for flying).

That cost is about $5,000.”

Once you have your license, you’ll need a bal-

loon to fly. Lenberg said most beginning pilots

purchase used balloon packages, which include

the balloon envelope, the basket, burner, tanks

and a trailer. Used balloon packages usually

have about 300 hours of air time and will run

about $20,000.

In addition to the purchase of the balloon, FAA

From left, veteran pilots Graham Bell and Ray Bair.

12 Four Corners SPoRTS July 2014

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must inspect it, which costs between $1,000

to $1,500. If repairs are needed on any of the

equipment, that can add another $500 to

$1,500 to the cost. Insurance is also required

and will run about $1,200 a year, Lenberg

said.

For someone just getting into hot air bal-

looning, that initial investment will be more

than $28,000 – more than many young people

are willing to spend, Lenberg added.

For those who are willing to make that in-

vestment, the joys of the sport are reward-

ing. And for those who earn their commercial

pilot’s license, there are financial rewards.

“Most commercial pilots charge about

$200 per person for a flight that is usually

one hour,” Lenberg explained. “A commercial

balloon will have a bigger basket that can

hold between 12 and 20 people.”

Commercial balloon pilots are also discov-

ering another avenue to generate income.

“Ballooning has become a significant adver-

tising medium,” Lenberg said. “It’s so un-

usual – and the sport can have a huge

economic impact.”

Whether a hot air balloon is used as a

marketing tool or simply to give people the

ride of a lifetime, the magic and excitement

of seeing balloons gliding gently across the

sky brings people out to enjoy the colors and

the special shapes of the balloons.

For Lenberg, sharing his love of the sport

with his children is one of the best reasons

to continue flying.

He – and Mike Voorhees – hope that the

younger generation discovers what they

learned years ago – the fun and the beauty of

piloting a hot air balloon is worth the time,

the effort and, yes, even the expense.

Debra Mayeux

Farmington High School Hall ofFamer Jeff Clark has continued histrend of winning tennis matchesby clinching the Men’s A singlestitle in the 28th annual CitizensBank Tennis Tournament, theweekend of June 20 in Farmington.

“This was a very nice tourna-ment put on by Citizens Bank,” saidLarry Larson, tournament director.“There were 40 people registeredand playing in this tournament.There was lots of good competitionand a good time had by all.”

Clark beat Marcus Richardsonin the final to earn the title. ShawnBarela was the consolation cham-pion.

Dale Brown went undefeated inthe Men’s B championship in theround robin format tournament.Mike Grundwald came in secondwith Cary Cahoon in third.

Clark and his doubles’ partnerLarry Larson were not able tocome out on top in the Men’s A

Doubles when they were beat bythe team of Pat McGrath and DavidGrega.

In the Men’s B Doubles Champi-onship, the team of Hahn Lam andGeorge Ang were the winners inthe round robin format with Dustinand Luther Gilstrap cinching sec-ond and Corbin and Brik Moorheadin third.

Sandy Schumacher and CarolineMoss were the undefeated champi-ons in Women’s Doubles. The teamof Peyton Sandoval and Molly Mer-rion came in second, and JoyceSabol and Melissa Volz came inthird.

Schumacher also cinched a winin mixed doubles with her tennispartner Nathaniel Pavlik. The pairwas named the undefeated cham-pions, with David Grega and Caro-line Moss coming in second andNed and Molly Merrion coming inthird. Will Hall and Payton San-doval were fourth and team ofCorbin Moorhead and Holly Pater-son finished in fifth.

FHS Hall oF Famer

Jeff clark continues winning steak atCitizens Bank Tennis Tournament

Many of our local prep ath-letes have been spending thefirst month of summer gettingready for one last hurrah onthe field or court. the new Mex-ico Coaches Association, underthe leadership of former piedraVista Athletic Director BusterMabrey, has expanded the All-Star week experience byspreading the events outthroughout the summer andadding team camps to coincidewith the week.

While the football and boysbasketball game in class 4Aand 5A will be played at the endof the month, the girls basket-ball and softball games wereplayed in early June withpiedra Vista’s Kaleigh grahamplaying for the north in the bas-ketball All-Star. in softball, thenorth squad was dominated byDistrict 1AAAA with Alix Johnsonand Angela Minjares from thestate runner-up Aztec tigers,Kanani tapaha from KirtlandCentral and tabor Woosley and

Danielle ortiz from the nine-time state champion piedraVista panthers.

After a dominating 12-5 winin the opening game of thethree-game series the Southcame back to take game 2 8-6.the north squad then took theseries with an 8-0 win over theSouth.

Valley’s Bayley legarretastarted the north’s offensiveonslaught with a solo home runin the second, providing all therun support needed for Chanelpurcella of Albuquerque High,who pitched the shutout for thenorth.

the All-Star basketballgames can be a bit of a snooze-fest sometimes, with little de-fense and a lot of individualone-on-one play as everyonelooks to score. that was not thecase in one of the most dra-matic All-Star games in recenthistory as the north defeated

the South 85-84 in double over-time.

Volcano Vista’s HannahFenske was the hero for thenorth squad, tallying 40 points,and was spectacular in the lastseconds of regulation and theovertime periods.

Although the north con-trolled the better part of thegame, they ended up trailing bythree with 15 seconds left be-hind a massive effort by May-field’s Desheanna McCants wholed the South with 32. At thebuzzer Fenske hit a 25-foot run-ning three off the glass to sendthe game to overtime. After in-dividual shows by McCants andFenske, the north looked tohave the game under controlwith Fenske at the line with achance to ice the game, but

missed the second throw, andMcCants drove the distance fora tying lay up.

Fenske opened the secondovertime with a long three andthe north never looked back ontheir way to the win. piedraVista’s Kaleigh graham startedfor the north and finished with2 points and 9 rebounds.

the All-star extravaganzacontinues on July 29 with the4A/5A north-South basketballgame at West Mesa High Schoolin Albuquerque, featuring Kirt-land Central’s ChristianMackey. Football follows on the30th with Brian Farley, Kylereynolds and logan Wellingfrom Farmington High and BeauClafton and Alex gardenhirefrom piedra Vista representingthe district.

All-Star gamesLocal prep girls gear up for last hurrah on the field

Story by Rick Hoerner | Photos Curtis Benally

DAnielleORTEZpiedra Vista High School

AngelAMINJARESAztec High School

13Four Corners SportSJuly 2014

there are many definitions of the word “fun.”

the New American Webster Dictionary defines it

as a noun meaning “anything that induces enjoy-

ment, especially mirthful, amusement, sport and

joking.”

For Jason Kaminsky and rick Jenkins – and

thousands more just like them – “fun” is defined

by a recreational off-highway vehicle, or oHV, and

the challenge, competition, work and dirt that

comes with it. oHVs are four-wheeled motorized

vehicles not designed for use on highways and

are capable of cross-country travel on land, snow,

or other natural terrain.

Kaminsky loved oHVs and the fun and chal-

lenges they provided, so in 2009, he decided to

take his hobby of 13 years to the next level. Four

Corners 4x4 was founded in July of 2009 and the

plans to turn his hobby into a business were set

in motion. When he learned there was a stock

class starting at the 2012 King of Hammers, he did not want to be left

out. the search for a new vehicle was on, and in November of 2011,

Kaminsky purchased a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

the King of Hammers is held annually every February in Johnson Valley,

Calif. According to the website www.ultra4racing.com, the race is the

toughest one-day off-road race in the country. the race has evolved from

12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer to more than 300

teams that attract more than 35,000 spectators and almost 500,000 people

who watch it online. In addition to Ultra4 racing, the team also participates

regularly in the Dirt riot Endurance racing circuit.

Kaminsky and his Four Corners 4x4 racing team entered their first

race in February 2012. that first season of racing established them as

true competitors; businesses looking for sponsorship opportunities

took note. Four Corners 4x4 provides its marketing partners an oppor-

tunity to reach an ever-growing number of fans of recreational four-

wheeling and off road racing. As a stock class competitor, the team also

uses the same parts, services and consumer brands to which the aver-

age enthusiast has access.

Jenkins had a professional relationship with Superchips, which pro-

vides automotive tuning for late model cars and trucks, and was one of

the first companies to specialize in tuning vehicles with computer con-

trolled fuel-injection systems. Superchips became Four Corners 4x4 rac-

ing’s first major sponsor.


Story by Dorothy Nobis | Courtesy photos


That sponsorship provides financial support

for the team, which is not only appreciated, but

critical for a successful racing team. “We spent

$40,000 to race in 2013 – we ran eight races –

and much of that went for vehicle maintenance,

fuel and travel,” Kaminsky said.

For those who want to get into OHV racing,

however, the expenses go beyond the race entry

fee, the travel and the fuel. The initial cost of the

vehicle, including custom and aftermarket mod-

ifications, can be upwards of $75,000, Kaminsky

said, and the hundreds of hours spent prepar-

ing the vehicle for races and doing mainte-

nance on it after a race all add to the cost of

participating in the sport.

The countless hours, the financial, mental

and emotional investments are worth it, if you

love the sport as Kaminsky and Jenkins do.

“I grew up with parents who loved four-

wheeling,” Jenkins said. “A lot of families enjoy

the sport. We have husband and wife groups

who work together and travel together. It’s re-

ally a family sport.”

“Simply, it is grass roots racing,” Kaminsky

said. “It’s not like NASCAR or Formula One

where the fans are separated from the race

and the drivers. The fans get close and the kids

can get autographs from the drivers, which

adds to the fun for everyone.”

While Kaminsky is usually behind the wheel

for races, it is Jenkins who sits in the passen-

ger seat and is the ears, eyes and support.

Jenkins monitors the GPS – which helps Kamin-

sky navigate the race course, communicates

with the team’s pit crew, watches for obstacles

and helps direct the car out of trouble.

Cody DeClusin has been working with Kamin-

sky and Jenkins for several years. It was Jenk-

ins who introduced DeClusin to Kaminsky, and

the trio has been fast friends since.

“I re-wired the car from front to back and

everything in between,” DeClusin said. “I also

have a close relationship with the team outside

of the racing. I got the privilege of co-piloting

for Richard (Rick) in Moab this year and we

took second place. It takes a lot of hard work

and dedication to be where this team is today.”

The team has done well, with a 2013 National

Championship, 2012 and 2013 Mountain Series

Championships, a Central Series Championship

in 2013; and a Southwest Series Runner-up

spot in 2013. The team is also proud of the 17

finishes in 19 starts and the 15 podium fin-

ishes it has enjoyed.

16 Four Corners SPOrTS July 2014

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If there is a downside to the

sport, it is the difficulty in finding

land on which to race.

“The promoters of races are al-

ways looking for new landowners

who will let us use their land for

racing,” Jenkins said. “We need

land big enough for five-mile

laps.”

“Private land owners are easi-

est to work with,” Jenkins added.

“There is a lot of public land avail-

able, but it’s just not cost effective

to do so.”

Kaminsky and Jenkins would

love to have races in San Juan

County. “Our races bring in sub-

stantial tourism dollars to the

local economy wherever we have

them,” Jenkins said.

Statistics listed on the Outdoor

Industry Association website also

state that outdoor recreation is

good for the economy. The website

states that outdoor recreation

generates $6.1 billion in consumer

spending in New Mexico; and pro-

vides 68,400 direct jobs in our

state, which generate $1.7 billion

in wages and salaries in addition

to more than $450 million in state

and local taxes.

For those who would like more

information about OHV racing, Four

Corners 4x4 can be found online at

www.FC4x4.com or Kaminsky may

be reached at 970.382.7654.

However, Kaminsky and Jenkins

admit that once you get into the

sport, it will become more than a

hobby, it will become a passion.

One reason these men love the

sport isn’t the dirt and the dust and

the trophies. It’s the intangible

things that make it worthwhile.

“Every year, we work with the

Wounded Warriors,” Jenkins said.

“For two days, we take wounded

vets out, put them in our vehicles

and show them another way to

enjoy public lands.”

Those two days, they said, are

two of the best days of the year.


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Memorial Tournament

Golfers, sponsors help raise

$7,000 for Coach Holman Fund

On June 16 Nike and Ultimate Team Sales hosted the first annual

Kevin Holman Memorial Tournament at Piñon Hills Golf Course for

the educational fund of the Holman children. Local high school

coach Kevin Holman, most recently of Kirtland Central, lost his battle

with cancer on Jan. 22 this past year.

Nearly $7,000 was raised for the Coach Holman Fund by 80 golfers

and 22 sponsors. Donations to the Coach Holman Fund can be de-

posited at Four Corners Community Bank, or call 505.215.2533 for

details.

18 Four Corners SPorTS July 2014

We all approach running differently. Whether our purpose is to maintain fitness, train for

a 5k, or to compete in something as demanding as the Hardrock 100-mile ultra one-day,

one thing that unites us as runners is the sensation of running.

It is the hum of endorphins pulsing in your ears while the cool morning breeze dries

beads of sweat rolling down your back as you try to outrun your ghost of yesterday’s work-

out. It is the feeling of weightlessness as you careen down a groomed singletrack in soli-

tude. It is slowly losing yourself and your worries among the vanilla scented ponderosa

pines and the dappled shadows cast by scrub oak. It is overcoming the diminutive feeling

that towers over you as you size up the steep 1,000-vertical-foot hill climb, and it is reveling

in each lungful of thin air at its summit.

Clarity,health,foCusDurango’s top spots for trail running

Story and photos by Ben Brashear

Paul Hamilton on the La Plata Traverse.

This photo is courtesy of Brendan Trimboli.The Durango Silverton Narrow

Gauge seen from Animas Mountain.

19Four Corners SpoRTSJuly 2014

Runner Zoe Madeen powers toward Gudy's Rest.The Durango Running Club heads up Animas Mountain.


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But running can and does go beyond mere sensation. It has the ability

to alter our character and our perspective. Running, according to ultra-

runner Scott Jaime, even allows us to perform our best in our daily

lives. Jaime, current record holder of the fastest known time on the Col-

orado Trail, explained this to me best over a cup of coffee.

“Running drives everything. When you go for a long run you have this

mental clarity like no other time in your life, you can think through your

problems and situations. My running makes me a better husband, a bet-

ter co-worker, it makes me a better father and it makes me a better son.

Running is what I do, it’s not who I am, but it helps shape and focus

what’s the most important in my life” Jaime said.

And with Jaime’s words in mind it is time to hit the trails running.

Here are five of the best trail runs around Durango, Colo., that will keep

you focused and get you in shape for the fast approaching Kennebec

Mountain Challenge, the Taos Valley 10K in August, or the Duke City

Marathon in October.

Animas Mountain Trail Run:Just the facts:

6 miles total distance

3 miles to Animas Overlook

1,400 feet of elevation gain

2 months remaining until the Animas Mug Run in September

Located off 32nd Street and Main Avenue. The trail offers incredible

views of the Animas River Valley and the peaks of the Needle mountain

group in the Weminuche Wilderness. It is a technical trail with a consis-

tent climb that gains the ridgeline from the parking lot via several tight

switchbacks that ease into winding singletrack toward the Animas Over-

look. Loose sandstone blocks, tiered stair-step ledges, and a long climb

make this a great trail to improve your cardiovascular endurance and

to brush up on your fancy footwork.

Colorado Trail to Gudy’s Rest, or for the restless, High Point:

Just the facts:

7.6 miles to Gudy’s Rest


19.8 miles to High Point


8 hours 12 minutes: Scott Jaime’s record time for completing the en-

tire 486 miles of the Colorado Trail set in 2013. Watch the documentary,

Running the Edge, to get motivated.

The Junction Creek/Colorado Trail, located off CR 204, invites one to won-

der just what it might take to run the 486 miles to Denver. Gudy’s rest,

named for Gudy Gaskill “Mother of the Colorado Trail,” parallels Junction

Creek for the first 2.5 miles of this out and back run. With several natural

pools along the way, the creek offers runners and hikers alike a chance to

cool off during the summer months. The climb up to Gudy’s is consistent

but remains runable. Once at Gudy’s Rest take a breather and enjoy the

down valley views of Durango. If you brought your energy gels, keep push-

ing beyond Gudy’s for fast singletrack, banked turns lined with scrub oak,

and the chance to see the permanent elk herds and Merriam Turkeys as

you climb toward High Point at 9,600 feet.


Horse Gulch Trail Network:Just the facts:

3 miles around Meadow Loop

400 feet of elevation gain

8 miles around Raider’s Ridge to Telegraph


31 miles for the old Durango Double Loop.

Be aware that mountain bikers travel the trails in a counterclockwise

direction

Known for its proximity to town and with over 42 miles of trail, Horse

Gulch offers endless possibilities for your training needs. Located off 3rd

Street and 8th Avenue, the trail system is the benefit of private landowners,

City Open Space, and the BLM. Trail runs can range in distance from 3 miles

around Meadow Loop – or if you are up to it, run the old Durango Double

50K course. A favorite run is an 8-mile loop that begins at the parking lot

gaining 800 feet in elevation toward the summit of Raider’s Ridge. Descend

the tiered sandstone slabs on Rocky Road to meet up with Cuchillo for a se-

ries of short steep climbs and banked turns through the piñon trees to-

ward Mike’s, finally meeting up with Meadow Loop and the Telegraph Trail

for a smooth descent to the parking lot. Trail maps are located at each

junction for those unfamiliar with the area.

Hog’s Back in Overend Mountain Park, A.K.A “Test Tracks”:

Just the facts:

.3 mile from base to summit


Over 300 acres of Open City Space and an entire trail network main-

tained by Trails 2000

Work in weekly hill repeats on this beast to become an unstoppable hill

climber

The Mountain Park trailhead is located off of Elle Vita Circle. Local legend

holds that this area of winding singletrack was once the place where the

likes of professional mountain biker Ned Overend, tested and destroyed

prototype mountain bikes for Team Specialized. This trail network is no

joke. If you want to test your endurance, cardiovascular fitness, and per-

haps the level of your sanity, run the Test Tracks. Hog’s back, a short sec-

tion of trail perfect for hill repeats, is the most prominent feature within

the mountain park. Loose shale and a consistent 35-degree pitch will yield

rock-hard quads, legendary mitochondria, and the steadfast mental tenac-

ity of a Kung-Fu master. In 2014 runners from Southwest Coloradans Run-

ning Ultra Distances or, S.C.R.U.D, created the rogue event known as

Hognar. The event required participants to summit Hog’s back 20 times in

less than four days.

La Plata West Traverse:Just the facts:

14.2 miles round trip


3-8 hours to complete the entire loop

Bring your trekking poles and water purifier

This mountain group of the San Juan range has a rich mining history.

Aptly named by the Dominguez/Escalante party in 1776 for its silver de-

posits, it was the discovery of gold in 1873 along the base of Parrott Peak,

* Trails 23

22 Four Corners SPoRTS July 2014

The XTERRA triathlon in Farmington was cancelled in

late May, when registration numbers were down 38

percent from the lowest numbers in history.

It was difficult to get 130 athletes in the 2013 season,

and the numbers were steadily dropping since the race

was implemented in 2008, according to Ingrid Gilbert,

race coordinator.

The Farmington XTERRA, which was part of the XTERRA

America Tour, was one of the first and only triathlons in

the region. “We used to bring 180 athletes in and would

have to send some away,” said Gilbert, who works at the

Farmington Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the official

race sponsor.

New Mexico is listed in the South-Central region of the

XTERRA tour, which is a race for athletes competing for

points in the regional competition. The athletes then get

an opportunity to move up to the national and interna-

tional circuits.

“In the beginning people would travel to come to the

Farmington race to get their points,” Gilbert said.

XTERRA, however, has been growing in popularity and

more races have been added. “People didn’t have to

come to us anymore.”

The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau initially brought

the race to Farmington to promote the area and bring in

tourists. “This is a great vehicle to market the trails

here,” Gilbert said. It was of interest to outsiders, be-

cause San Juan County does not have enough triathletes

to support the race.

Recently, there was a race added in Pagosa Springs,

Colo., which took from the number of Southwest Col-

orado participants in the Farmington race. The Pagosa

race, scheduled for Aug. 2, is being marketed as a new

course set at the base of the majestic San Juan Moun-

tains. It includes a 1.6km swim, a 16-mile bike ride and a

6.2-mile trail run through Martinez Canyon. The race be-

gins at 9 a.m. and must be completed within five hours.

With participation declining

Story by Debra Mayeux Photos by Josh Bishop

Convention and Visitor’s

Bureau cancels

Farmington XTERRA

23Four Corners SPoRTSJuly 2014

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Gilbert said these races are meant to be brutal, so the fact that the

Pagosa race is being marketed on the XTERRA website –

xterraplanet.com – as a “fast-flowing track” with “technical” sections

through Ponderosa and Aspen forest making it “rooty and rocky under-

foot” is no surprise.

Without the Farmington race, there was no XTERRA planned in New

Mexico, but as a race coordinator Gilbert said she wanted to provide

something for the triathletes in this state. She worked with a private

property owner to set up a race in Glorieta.

XTERRA Tri The Torture will be Aug. 9 at the Glorieta Camps, 15 min-

utes south of Santa Fe in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. This is the

only XTERRA “offroad triathlon in New Mexico this year,” the website

state. “Swim in the new waterpark pond, mountain bike the great sur-

rounding trails and run in the cool Ponderosa forest followed by a wet

finish.”

XTERRA triathletes have until 10 p.m. Aug. 7 to register for the Glori-

eta Tri The Torture race. Registration is available online at newmexi-

cosportsonline.com or at xterraplanet.com.

however, that brought attention to these mountains. Rumor has it that

the Red Arrow mine produced gold ore with such purity that it was

shipped directly to the Denver mint. The history alone of these peaks is

worth the trip, but running along the exposed ridgeline, traversing

through pockets of talus, experiencing long vistas, and open tundra

from Parrot Peak to Madden, and then along to Star Peak, is worth far

more than the mineral ore discovered here. Begin by running 1.5 miles

to Kroeger campground then head west gaining Parrott Peak with a long

climb through dense aspen groves interspersed by old growth fir and

spruce. From the top of Madden Peak at 11,972 feet, spectacular views

of Sleeping Ute of the Ute Mountains near Cortez, Colo., Wilson Peak near

Telluride, Colo., and on a clear day the Abajo range in Monticello, Utah,

can be had. Descend loose talus just south of Gibbs Peak to meet up

once again with CR 124 and back to the parking lot. This is truly some of

the best mountain running in the Durango area but keep in mind that it

will require the appropriate gear. Bring your trekking poles, a running

pack, some form of water purification, and lightweight rain gear, as the

weather can change in minutes. Located 8 miles down CR 124 to the

Mayday parking lot.

Trails continued from 21

Little Kristiana Wilson is always dancing.

Whenever she hears music – in the car, the gro-

cery store, on television – her feet start tapping

and her body starts moving.

recently named the national champion at the

American Showcase Championship in Anaheim,

Calif., this 6-year-old could just be the next danc-

ing sensation to come out of Bloomfield. Kris-

tiana attended the championship with the team

from the Force, where she began taking dance

classes a year ago.

“She always asked to be in dance,” Kris-

tiana’s mother, Alicia Wilson said. “She has such

good rhythm and beat. I’m just glad I put her at

the Force. It’s a great environment, and Sheila

(Mobley) helps the kids reach their goals.”

It was Mobley, owner of the Force, who en-

couraged Kristiana to enter a national dance

competition. Mobley watched Kristiana – who

dances on the Little Dippers team – and what

she saw was a little girl with aspirations to go

much further in dance. Mobley allowed Kristiana

to choreograph her own solo and gave Alicia ad-

vice on how to create a costume for the routine.

“My mom made my costume,” Kristiana said

with a grin.

“I went to Hobby Lobby and other stores and

picked up things here and there,” Alicia said.

She took a body suit and added rhinestones, a

necktie and other bling to make it competition

ready.

then, it was up to Kristiana to develop and

practice her Hip Hop routine, choreographed to

a Lady Gaga remix.

“I got the ideas from my brain,” Kristiana

said, adding that she learned to make appropri-

ate facial expressions – smiles, puckered lips,

winks – from watching the older girls at the

Force. “It was pretty fun. I like making up my

own dances when music comes on.”

Kristiana has two brothers and two sisters

and will attend Central Elementary School in

Bloomfield this August. She is the only dancer in

the family, other than her mother, who partici-

pated in jazz and ballet as a young girl. Alicia

said she is in awe of Kristiana’s talent. Her fa-

ther, patrick Wilson, also is supportive.

“I wanted her to compete. She’s just so confi-

dent,” Alicia said.

Both Mobley and Alicia were correct in en-

couraging Kristiana, not only because she re-

ceived the overall highest score at the FHS

invitational last February, she won the national

championship and received the highest score for

a solo out of the entire dance ensemble from the

Force.

Kristiana Wilson, the Force

win big at American

Showcase Championship

Story by Debra Mayeux | Courtesy photos



“It felt good, really good, to

win,” Kristiana said. “I won

medals, trophies and three cham-

pionship jackets.”

Kristiana is one of many

dancers helping to put The Force

on the map. The team recently

was asked by the Phoenix Suns

possibly to perform sometime in

the future during a pre-game

show, Mobley said, and she has

other dancers who shone at na-

tionals as well.

“Nationals was amazing,” Mob-

ley exclaimed. “Not only did our

teams come home with a ton of

awards, they were able to watch

and learn from some of the top

dance teams in the country.”

The American Showcase Cham-

pionship is the largest cheer and

dance competition on the West

Coast, according to Mobley.

Her Little Dippers, the 4- to 6-

year-olds, were named national

champions in pom and jazz, and

received a second in hip hop. The

Twinkles, first through third

graders, placed second in pom,

third in jazz and fifth in hip hop.

The Comets, third through sixth

graders placed third in pom and

jazz and fifth in hip hop; and the

Cosmos, seventh through ninth

graders, placed third in pom and

jazz and fifth in hip hop.

In addition to Kristiana, there

were three other national champi-

ons – Brooke Sona, Ahjanae

Salazar and Trinity Winer. Sona

also received a second place in

mini, while Trinity Winer and

Takoda Winer earned a second

place for their duet.

Other winners included Anissa

Herrera with a second place,

Amelia Le Bouef and Tiana Winer

with third place rankings, Maya

McGee with a fourth place, Mariah

Marcy with a fifth place, Abbie

Carley with a sixth place, Shelby

Steele with a 10th place and

Stephanie Parker with an 11th

place.

In addition to this competition,

Mobley took her cheer team

FORCE to the Cheer Power Nation-

als on May 18 in Las Vegas, Nev.,

where the team earned a second-

place ranking.

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This month former Piedra Vista andNFL veteran Charly Martin returned toFarmington to host his annual CharlyMartin Football Academy. Over 150young prospects turned out for the an-nual free camp with Charly and thePiedra Vista coaching staff.

Martin’s main emphasis for thecamp is to make sure that the game isfun. Martin leads drills in offensive anddefensive football as well as speaking tothe group about the benefits of athlet-ics. While Martin emphasizes the fun tobe had in the game, he also hits homeon the amount of work and dedication ittakes to get to the top at any level.

Throughout Martin’s career his workethic has been the wedge that hasopened the door of opportunity. In highschool, Martin was a three-sport athletewho not only excelled in football, but inbasketball and track as well. But at theend of Martin’s high school careerthere was no line of colleges knockingat the door to give Martin a scholarshipto play football.

Martin was taken on as a walk-on at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas.After playing for Piedra Vista’s inaugural head coach Wilson Wilhite, upthrough his senior year Martin was of more value blocking than catchingthe football. When given the opportunity to enroll at West Texas, the Buf-faloes were predominantly running teams, where Martin hoped to get achance to earn his playing time by showing off his run blocking skills, andhe hoped to get an occasional look in the passing game.

As fate would have it, Martin’s path quickly changed when a new coach-ing staff was brought in before he even arrived in Canyon. Initially it ap-peared that Martin was not going to be a good fit for the newlyimplemented spread offense. Martin quickly showed he could produce inthe passing game, and by his senior year was the leading receiver in thenation at the Division II level.

After five seasons of having to prove his worth in the NFL, and bouncingfrom opportunity to opportunity, Martin at 29 is on the outside looking in.Due to the NFL Players Association collective bargaining deal with theleague, Martin was priced out of opportunities to further his career. In thebusiness of the NFL, he was just too expensive. NFL squads can sign as un-drafted free agents or as younger unsigned players for far less cash. Sofor the meantime Martin sits by the phone and hopes for a call, which

might be after the season begins and injuries force teams to look for anexperienced guy to come right in and contribute.

Martin is also smart enough to know that there are also football jobs offthe field as he looks at possibilities in coaching, scouting or broadcasting.Until then Martin is valuing his newest job as father. Whether Martinmakes it back on the field or not, he will remain part of the game.

He will always be part of the Farmington community and is already plan-ning on next summer’s camp No. 6.

NFL veteran returns to host

free annual football camp

CATCHING UP

CHARLIE MARTIN

WITH

Story by Rick Hoerner | Josh Bishop photos

27Four Corners SpORTSJuly 2014

6,000 milescross country for a cause

Firefighter raises funds for Make-A-Wish FoundationStory by Debra Mayeux | Josh Bishop photos

Chris Harley Rupp hadn’t been on a road bike since October 2013, when hehopped on his bicycle on May 20 in Seattle, Wash., and headed out for across country trek.

Rupp is riding 6,000 miles to Miami, Fla., to raise money and build aware-ness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This 25-year-old firefighter and pre-school teacher stopped off June 25 in Farmington for an overnight stay atFire Station 6, where he was welcomed after a 90-mile ride from Gallup.

“I like biking through the mountains. It’s stimulating,” he said, adding thatthe ride has been amusing. It also has been mentally challenging. Ruppsaid he did no physical training to prepare for this ride. “It really is allmental – getting yourself to think you can bike 100 miles a day is the hardpart. The rest comes easy,” he said.This is Rupp’s second bike ride across the country. His first was in 2011when he rode from San Francisco, Calif., to New York City to raise moneyand awareness for the National Fallen Firefighters Association. He hadbeen a firefighter in Mount Horeb, Wis., for five years, joining the depart-ment after graduating from high school. He wanted to give something toother firefighters and planned the 4,281 mile journey across country. Hisefforts raised nearly $100,000 for the association.

When Rupp decided to hop on the back of bicycle once again, he had anew organization and goal in mind. He wanted to travel 6,000 miles andraise $100,000 for Make-A-Wish. He modeled this journey on the 2011 trip,by staying at firehouses overnight and meeting with his firefighting com-rades.

“It’s been great meeting with people, and I’m amazed how many firefight-ers and people in general have a personal connection to Make-A-Wish,”Rupp said.

Rupp chose Make-A-Wish, because of a personal connection to the or-ganization. He knew a family from Mount Horeb that had a child with aterminal illness. The family reached out to Make-A-Wish and the resultswere “incredible,” Rupp said. “While the family was going through theillness, they were smiling and having fun because of Make-A-Wish. Itwas like they were given one last dance. Make-A-Wish allowed them to

cherish what they had left.”

As a firefighter and a preschool teacher he knows what a difference serv-ice can make in the lives of those in need. “As a firefighter, when the tones go off, we race to be there for other peo-ple. It’s a duty we took on ourselves,” Rupp said. “Make-A-Wish does thesame kind of work as they work to help the families and friends of thosefacing life-threatening medical conditions. They are there to offer hope,dreams, memories and, most importantly, to make a wish a reality.”

He planned to arrive in Miami, Fla., on July 16, and then would head homeon July 17 to Mount Horeb and his regular life. His website will be up andcollecting donations through the end of August.

Chris Harley Rupp

Rupp has raised $4,960thus far for Make-A-Wish and he wantedpeople to know that 100percent of the fundsraised through his ridewill help to supportwishes in the townwhere the money waspledged.

Residents in Farmingtoncan go to his website,RideForWishes.us to do-nate, and also to trackRupp’s progress.

29Four Corners SPoRTSJuly 2014

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There is a new game in town – and it is going to bring a level of competi-

tion to the Four Corners that has been missing with the game of golf. The

PGA Junior League is golf’s answer to the concept of competitive team

sports that could become a game-changer.

With The First Tee affecting over 8,000 youth in the Four Corners Region,

the options between recreational junior golf and full-on competitive golf

were lacking. The newly introduced league pits 50 junior golfers from Aztec,

Farmington and Kirtland against each other in a team-oriented, match play

scramble (best shot)

format that brings

friendly competition

into the equation.

Twenty partici-

pants from Aztec, 20

more from Kirtland,

and the final 10 from

Farmington play

against each other as two-person teams. The matches are designed to give

participants a taste of competitive golf without having to rely on hitting

every shot. The teammates play three, three-hole matches, playing against

the other two-person team, trying to win three total points for the nine

holes.

“The PGA Junior League is a brilliant concept,” proclaimed Hidden Valley

Head Golf Professional Tom mcClurg. “This really bridges the gap and intro-

duces a different level of competitive golf to juniors who have never experi-

enced it before.”

“Junior golf has become more of a pressing point than ever,” stated Sun

Country Golf House Executive Director, Dana Lehner. “It’s the lifeblood of our

game and it’s slowly dying in New mexico and West Texas. I think the PGA

Junior Golf League is vital to jump-starting our lagging junior golf numbers.”

With two matches in the books, participants and parents alike are raving

about the concept and format.

“This is the best program I’ve ever seen from the PGA,” said League Di-

rector Thomas Yost. “I wish we would have formed this years ago. To see

the kids work in tandem to accomplish a goal is a fantastic concept and you

start to see a competitive side to the kids that I have never seen before. The

PGA Junior League is a winner and I think it is something that will only grow

in size and stature going forward.”

With matches being played on Saturday evenings at Riverview Golf

Course in Kirtland, Hidden Valley in Aztec, and Civitan Golf Course in Farm-

ington, golfers also get to experience different playing conditions at differ-

ent venues.

The league’s success is due in large part to various community donors

and a Sports matter Grant from Dick’s Sporting Goods. The matching grant

funds have kept costs to participants low and helped encourage 50 players

to get involved with the future of team sports.

“I think we need a real sense of urgency in our junior golf world,” said

Lehner. “This program is going to do a lot to get our junior world back on

the right track.”

THE FIRST TEE: PGA Junior League comes to Four Corners

TomYOSTThe First Tee

the spring soccer season has come to a close, but not

before many area teams travelled to distant places

throughout Colorado and New Mexico to par-

ticipate in large tournament settings.

the reasons for the

travel? With

Farming-

ton being iso-

lated in the

northwest corner of New

Mexico, the bigger cities offer fa-

cilities and amenities that the Farm-

ington area cannot match.

“Unfortunately, the main reason Four Corners-based

teams travel to these big cities is because we do not

have the facilities here locally to host such large tour-

nament events,” explained FC United rapids 10U Coach

Jeff Cillessen. “the ability to host a tournament in one

or two locations is much better than hosting games in

proximity all over the city. I believe if our local commu-

nity had the appropriate facilities we could gain interest

from surrounding communities to travel to Farmington

and enjoy what our community has to offer.” Another

reason for traveling involves the levels of competition

and exposing the local players to different styles of play.

“I use it for my teams as a gauge to see how we stack up against other

teams throughout the state,” said Steve Kinsey, Coach of the FC United

10U Girls. “How my players compare to their players individually. Are my

players getting the skills they need to keep up? I am after player develop-

ment.”

“You get a higher level of competition outside of the Four Corners re-

gion,” Kinsey continued.

“the teams from Albuquerque play a different style and tend to have a

larger pool of players, so their teams have a bit more quality from the

top player to the bench, and typically have deeper benches.”

“playing at a higher level of competition pushes any player to respond

in a manner that elevates their awareness and pushes the player to ‘dig

deep’ to succeed in the match,” said Cillessen.

“playing against teams of the same age, at a higher level of quality, un-

veils to the other team moves

and techniques that will

promote growth

for the

Local teams travel to Albuquerque, Durango for tournament play


Story by Tom Yost | Courtesy photos

team. Being pushed and elevating the level of play is a positive outcome.”

playing and traveling to tournaments in large cities offers positives,

but also can have some unintended negative consequences as well.

“A negative outcome is that playing against a higher level of play or

older teams all the time, where a team cannot fundamentally respond,

can hurt the enthusiasm and spirit of team,” said Cillessen. “Soccer

teams enjoy winning, which shows them they are growing and

accomplishing their objectives (i.e. scoring goals). If they

get beat all the time and never win, it can be very dif-

ficult for some athletes and they may lose interest

in the sport or interest in the coaching.”

“When you are accustomed to winning,

losing doesn’t come easy,” added Kinsey.

“people tend to overemphasize the win

in tournaments. From my point of

view a tournament is a test to see

where I am at so I can start de-

veloping and seeing where I

need to work for my training

for next year. It is great to

win tournaments, but I use it

as a tool for player develop-

ment.”

Another negative of travel-

ing out of town is the cost that

is incurred by the families of

the actual players. With the

added expenses of travel –

such as gas, hotels and food –

the associated costs may seem

high at first glance, but they offer value for the team building that oc-

curs.

“the big negative is obviously the cost. Eating out every meal and the

hotels … it can get a little bit pricey,” said Kinsey. “But the experience

gives the kids a chance to have some fun through bonding when you go

to a tournament not in the Four Corners, because when you play in tour-

naments and stay in hotels, the people you hang around with are the par-

ents and kids from the soccer team. they will get together outside of the

soccer game and socialize, which is beneficial for team. ”

that being said, the local Four Corners teams that have traveled to

Colorado and Albuquerque have enjoyed success. With Cillessen’s 10U

boys winning the Durango Shootout and Kinsey’s 10U girls finishing in

third place in Albuquerque recently.



Powerful men & women compete for strongman titleStory by Debra Mayeux | Photos by Josh Bishop

The strongest men and women in New Mex-

ico competed June 14 in Farmington for the

title San Juan County Strongman in the city’s

3rd annual Clash of the Titans Strongman Com-

petition.

The event in Downtown Farmington’s Or-

chard Park had nearly 40 competitors from

across the state. It was coordinated by Sarah

Hernandez, a national strongman and power

lifting competitor from Bloomfield.

Hernandez and her husband, Brett Lanier,

began competing in 2011. The couple met at

Complete Physique, where Hernandez was a

personal trainer and power lifter. “Brett

lifted to be strong,” Hernandez said. “Once

we started dating, we decided to do some-

thing with this.”

The couple joined the Natural Athletes

Strength Association and began going to tour-

naments. “Strongman and power lifting go well

together,” Hernandez said, adding that Brett

loves to power lift and participates in Strong-

man competitions on the side.

He has been so successful at power lifting

that he was listed as one of the

top 10 dead lifters in the world,

and there are several Internet

videos of him dead lifting nearly

700 pounds. people who attended

Farmington’s Clash of the titans

had an opportunity to see Lanier

in action. He placed first in the

heavyweight division.

Hernandez broke the event up

into three men’s divisions – light-

weight, middleweight and heavy-

weight. the seven women who

came out competed in a women’s

category. there were two judges –

travis Clary and John posen – who

represented the United States in

Strongman in russia.

“It was hugely inspirational to

have John posen here,” Hernandez

said. All of the competitors partici-

pated in standard Strongman

events, including a log press, fire

truck pull, Atlas stones, and a

medley of a yoke, a farmer’s carry,

sandbag carry and a tire flip, Her-

nandez said. She actually modeled

the competition after others in

which she has competed.

Hernandez’s first competition

was the Battle of the Borders in

Farmington, and she was the first

and only female to compete.

“I was hooked,” she said. After

that she competed in Durango and

qualified for a national strongman

competition. Since that time, she

and Lanier have been in 10 compe-

titions across the country. And

while Lanier prefers power lifting,

Strongman competitions resonated


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with Hernandez.

“I was able to go outside do dif-

ferent events,” Hernandez said.

She and Lanier have continually

competed, but they also have

helped build a community of

strong men and women within the

Four Corners, and that community

has reached out to the rest of the

state.

Hernandez even set up a team

of people who came together for a

couple of hours each Sunday to

train for competition. Kirk

Sokolosky was one of those peo-

ple.

Prior to joining up with Hernan-

dez and Lanier, Sokolosky at-

tempted to learn about Strongman

competitions by watching YouTube

videos. He wanted to compete, but

wasn’t sure. Once he had the op-

portunity to practice each Sunday

prior to the Clash of Titans, he not

only went in with confidence, he

had a will to win.

Sokolosky received a first-place

ranking in the lightweight division.

“It’s an adrenaline rush going out

there, giving it all you’ve got until

you’re tired,” he said. “As a com-

petitor, you’re seeing what your

maximum potential is. I had a

great time. … It was a blast.”

The middleweight first-place

ranking went to Eli Freese.

There were three males who re-

ceived a second place ranking by

weight class. They were Levi Pat-

terson, lightweight, of Albu-

querque; Jacob Nestor,

middleweight, of Durango, Colo.;

and Miles Begay, heavyweight, of

Farmington.

The third-place rankings were

as follows: Kory Eddy, lightweight,

of Farmington; Thomas Marquez,

middleweight, of Bloomfield; and

Remi Keniatobe, heavyweight, of Al-

buquerque.

There were three female cham-

pions. Cassie Garcia, of Zia

Strength Systems in Albuquerque,

received first place. Martha

Schoppe, of Durango’s Animas

Cross Fit, took second; and Ella-

Hoya Villasenor, of Farmington,

took third place.

Garcia said she competed for the

experience because – as a personal

trainer who does power lifting and

cross fit – she wanted to be versed

in the sport of Strongman. “The ex-

perience was amazing, and I love

it,” she said. “Everybody had fun. It

was great.”

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Four Corners Sports Magazine July 2014

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Transcript of Four Corners Sports Magazine July 2014