After pasta, Burnsville skier fuels race day with special sandwich

Burnsville senior captain Tom Flickinger has his sights set on one last trip to the Alpine Skiing state meet in the middle of February at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.

Flickinger finished 41st at the state event a year ago. He posted an overall time of 1 minute, 18.4 seconds on his two runs.

Here is a closer look at Flickinger:

The best movie I've seen in the last year? I'm not a big movie person. I enjoy TV shows on Netflix more.

Name three songs you never skip on your iPod? I usually don't skip songs on my iPod because I like most of the music on there.

What are your three favorite apps? Bubble Pop; Jewels; Labyrinth.

Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me? Dedicated; focused; hard-working.

At my first varsity practice, I felt ... confused and overwhelmed.

What are your goals for the remainder of the Alpine Skiing season? My goal is to perform to my very best and to encourage my teammates to do so as well.

What did you work on in the offseason? I worked on weight training and running in the offseason.

To get focused for a meet, I ... wax and tune my skis the night before competitions.

What is your favorite meal prior to a meet? I always eat pasta the night before, usually spaghetti and meatballs, and I make sure to stay well-hydrated. I usually eat a turkey sandwich on days of competitions.

What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete? My most memorable moment as a high school athlete so far has been participating in the state meet.

Who is your school's biggest rival, and why? Rivalries tend to change every year.

How do you balance school and sports during the year? I have to manage my time well in able to do both.

If you could change one thing about high school sports, what would it be? I would make them more competitive.

Who is your favorite college or pro sports team and why? My favorite team is the US Ski Team because many athletes on the team have their roots at Buck Hill.

Do you have a secret talent - and if so, what is it? I have a green thumb. I have a vegetable garden that I grow during the summer.

What is the best sports advice you ever received? The best sports advice I have ever received was from my track coach, Mr. [Jon] Shelden, who tells us to never be satisfied.