Palmer mono-skier wins gold

WASILLA — Andrew Kurka is a seasoned veteran in the world of adaptive skiing.

The Palmer monoskier and member of the U.S. National team has won several World Cup medals. But he’s also endured serious injuries. Kurka, 24, has broken his back multiple times. A broken back suffered during a training run is Sochi, Russia, ended his 2014 Paralympic Games. Last year, Kurka suffered a broken femur.

Always resilient, Kurka has bounced back from every setback, a strength he’s possessed since an all-terrain vehicle accident left him partially paralyzed when he was 13. Kurka has not allowed the injuries to alter his will or spirit. But the local sit-skier does admit, his mindset, in terms of competing, has changed.

“I haven’t been quite so gung-ho,” Kurka said by cellphone from Aspen, Colorado, Saturday afternoon, during a break in the IPC Adaptive World Cup Finals. “I’m using my brain, finishing a lot more races. Before, it was I win or I crash. Now, I’m consistently up there on the podium. It’s OK getting silver or bronze every now and then.”

But that doesn’t mean there’s no room for gold.

Kurka grabbed the gold medal during the World Cup Finals men’s giant slalom Feb. 24. The honor marked Kurka’s first World Cup giant slalom podium, and added to his growing list of career accolades. Earlier in the year, Kurka struck gold in the men’s super-G in France. In 2014, Kurka won gold in the men’s downhill at a World Cup event in British Columbia. He was also first in the downhill at the U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing National Championships.

Kurka said the broken femur in 2015 really made him focus on what he needs to do to attain his goals, which includes a trip to PyeongChang, South Korea, for the 2018 Paralympic Games.

“My mindset has changed since my broken femur,” Kurka said. “It was the icing on the cake for injuries. I know I can’t afford any more injuries in my career.”

So Kurka has heightened his focus.

“This year I have been focusing on consistency, finishing as many races as I can,” Kurka said.

In the giant slalom, Kurka was fifth after the first run. But he won the second run. His combined score ultimately gave him a victory by six-tenths of a second, he said.

In addition to earning gold, Kurka also scored an agent this week, signing with The Factory Agency.

“It has been something I have been thinking about for a while,” Kurka said. “I really want to help the sport, help the sponsors in the long run.”

Kurka will continue competition Sunday, during the second piece of the 2014 Paralympic Games, which includes the downhill and super-G races.

“I want to go into the next speed races, be able to stay consistent and finish the year off strong,” Kurka said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.