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Chythlook-Sifsof 'super happy' with medal

February 1st 3:26 pm | Van Williams Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

When Dillingham snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof suffered a torn ACL in her left knee two years ago, the biggest bummer was that she was on top of the world at the time of her injury.

She was full of confidence and competing at the highest level.

Then it all came crashing down.

Sidelined but not derailed, Chythlook-Sifsof has since worked very hard to get herself back on track. It showed last week at the X Games in Aspen, Colo., where the 21-year-old rediscovered the magic with a podium finish.

Chythlook-Sifsof won a silver medal in the women's boardercross event, her first piece of hardware in five appearances at the X Games and her best career result in more than three seasons.

"It's incredible to podium and get a medal," she said by cell phone. "That's been the goal for the last five years, so it's amazing to actually have it happen."

With the ESPN cameras rolling, Chythlook-Sifsof zigged and zagged down the swerving course to challenge Olympic teammate and race winner Lindsey Jacobellis down the stretch.

Jacobellis finished with a time of 1 minute, 38 seconds to capture her record fourth consecutive X Games gold medal in the event.

Chythlook-Sifsof was across the line next in 1:39, raising her arms in celebration.

"This is the best result I've gotten in quite a long time and certainly the best result I've gotten at the X Games," she said. "I'm super happy to be at a place I was before the injury. I just kind of feel like snowboarding is getting back to how it used to be."

Chythlook-Sifsof originally injured her knee in the 2008-09 season, but she returned the next winter stronger than ever. She worked her way back to be ranked No. 2 in the country and No. 14 in the world, and later qualified for the 2010 Olympics.

Today she is healthy, happy and having the time of her life.

Her silver medal at the X Games was her best result since a third-place finish at a World Cup race in 2007 and a junior national championship in 2005.

Her previous best result at the X Games was eighth place.

This year, though, she made the podium along with a pair of Olympic medalists, a sign of just how far Chythlook-Sifsof has progressed since her knee injury.

"This is definitely validation," she said. "I definitely knew I was in the mix, but it's good to actually have it set in stone and get a medal from it."

Chythlook-Sifsof didn't get much time to celebrate her X Games fame. She came back to Alaska before jumping right back on a plane headed for South Korea and another World Cup. After that she's competing in the U.S. Grand Prix in Utah.

"I can't wait for the next few races," Chythlook-Sifsof said. "I think doing this and getting a good result definitely gives you confidence and puts you in a place where you know you can do the same things. It's amazing. I can't wait to keep placing like this."

 

Van Williams can be reached at vwilliams@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2452

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