MOUNT SNOW, Vt. – Is youth wasted on the young? Noel Lyons and Matt Murphy might think so. Age, experience and wisdom factored into their gritty Skier X qualifying runs on Thursday. They may be the senior members of the Skier X field, but Lyons and Murphy aren't about to collect social security or join AARP just yet.

Lyons, 38, the oldest woman competing in Skier X, burned up the course (51.243) to qualify in fourth place. "I'm smarter!," a spunky Lyons exclaimed. "Just think of all the years of wisdom I have. So when I approach a course like this I'm very tactical, I'm like General Patton plotting my path where some of these other gals are just putting their heads down and going for it. I have a plan!"

The 42-year-old Murphy, most "experienced" among the men, had a pretty simple plan – try not to plant his knee into his chest like he did at last year's Winter X.

"It went pretty good," said Murphy, who qualified in the 12th spot (47.265). "I caught a little bit too much air in spots but other than that it was kind of as expected."

Asked if he was aware of his level of seniority, Murphy just shrugged: "Yes, that I am – probably by about six years or so."

"I'm still out having fun," Murphy added with a menacing laugh.

Lyons, who had a few teeth broken in a brutal Winter X crash in 1999, believes this year's course is a good fit for her style. "I'm one of the smaller gals so I think I'm gonna be holding my own and I'm gonna be able to get a good starting position ... It's very technical and I'm gliding well on the flats at the top which is good because you really have to make your move on the top.

"If I can lead going into the turns I know I can hold my position because of my strength and technical abilities."

Chiara Lawrence, who claimed the silver medal last year, took the top spot (49.259). The remaining women's qualifiers include: Magdalena Jonsson (49.854), Megan Brown (50.856), Lela Hebard (51.308), Aleisha Cline (51.527), Michaela Boyle (51.573), Katie Shackelford (51.672), Anik Demers (51.825), Julia Lejoile (52.073), Patti Sherman-Kauf (52.501) and Christy Kromer (53.865).

Murphy didn't compete just to make the quarterfinals. He's ready to give it all he's got going for X Games gold. "These old bones still got a couple of days left in them," said a grinning Murphy.

Roman Torn, making his first appearance at Winter X, had the best run of the day (46.104). The remaining men's qualifiers include: Isidor Gruener (46.110), Hiroomi Takizawa (46.212), Zach Crist (46.562), Reggie Crist (46.737), Thomas Rinfret (46.838), Kaj Zackrisson (47.005), Anders Wiggerud (47.016), Jamey Parks (47.063), Sverre Liliequist (47.071), Eric Andersson (47.083), Markus Wittner (47.268), Janez Demsar (47.350), Eric Archer (47.783), Todd Kelly (47.903), Sean Clark (47.904), Jeremy Nobis (48.041), Tomas Andersson (48.195), Jon Orarback (48.261), Josh Loubek (48.308), Enak Gavaggio (48.335), Bill Hudson (48.369) and Axel Naglich (48.713).

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