By Bill Skinner

Forty Masters from U.S. and Canada descended on Valle Nevado, Chile to train and race in four FIS Master Cup events in September. The Skinner brothers host
the annual training camp. Coaches Chad Wolk, Nate Schwing, Scotty Veenis, Don Sears and the brothers run a week of training followed by four South American Cup races.

Snow condition this year were the best in years with 15 feet of snow on the training runs. Mornings were super G sessions followed by afternoon GS or slalom training. Racing started Sept. 17 with GS then super G in Valle Nevado then a super G and slalom at neighboring La Parva.

The first race day saw 116 racers and teams Italy, Canada, France, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Germany and the U.S.

American Dana Alexandrescu started out the week as she would end it as the first place overall woman and beating all but a handful of the men. Over 55 men (B group) was led by Canadian Mike Robbins who started his streak of three golds topping Christian Rebron (FRA). Group A men turned into a battle for second place as Sun Valley coach and Masters racer Nate Schwing led his team by example. Although running at the very end the 30 year olds Schwing proceeded to win every single run of the four day events. Top U.S. finishes include class wins by Drury Cooper, Pam Skinner, Anne Nordhoy, Marietta Frinell, Bob Skinner, Kevin Butler and Bob Bennett.

There was plenty of sun for super G day producing perfect snow, a fast track and big grins. Alexandrescu got a bit of a battle from Heidi Boesch (SUI) and Manuela Cerrato (ITA) who took second and third overall respectively. Timeless champ Anne Nordhoy (USA) was sixth overall leading Denyse Houde (CAN) for the 65-69 class win. Marietta Frinell (USA) and Chris Liegl (USA) went one-two in class. Mike Robbins took it to Egon Klabischnig (AUT) for the group B win and Bob Skinner is the only one close to Schwing for the overall, 1.61 seconds back, the closest anyone will get. Speed Series specialist Kevin Butler from Texas, led a North American podium sweep with Richard Graham (CAN) and Bob McKee (CAN) in class 45-49. Stew Marsh (USA) John Hussey (USA) Keith Thompson (USA) Bob Davis (USA) and Michael Houde (CAN) medaled in class. First time super G racer Alysa May from Sun Valley took the first gold of her career in the 35-39 ladies.

It was another sunny day for the La Parva super G and another day of wins by Schwing, Alexandrescu and Robbins. The venue is a classic 66 second real deal
super G featuring rolls, blind turns and 60 mph speeds. Chile pulled an ex-National Team racer, Mikael Gayme, out of the woodwork to tame Schwing but he missed by .64. Bob McKee (CAN) had a career best run taking gold in men 45-49. Tom Kronthaler (USA) made himself known with a second in class 60-64 and third overall in Group B. Utah resident Dasha Kadulova (CZE) finished top 10 overall ladies and won her class.

The closing La Parva slalom featured hard snow and intensified interest due to the awards for the South American Cup. After being just out of the money, (three fourth place finishes), eastern hard snow specialist Tom Hauck (USA) held off the European charge to claim his bronze medal to the cheers of his countrymen. Sun Valley’s Drury Cooper, a veteran of the South American racing series, took the 80-84 year old men category and his first SA Cup title. Tom Kronthaler (USA) finally earned a class win from Egon Klabischnig (AUT) who had been undefeated in the previous 60-64 class events and Keith Thompson (USA) took gold in 70-74 men over Franz Bayerschmidt (GER). The U.S. men took the top five positions overall in Group A. Bob Bennett stunned men’s 40-44 for the class win and the top spot for SA Cup. But arguably the biggest cheer went to Brian Frost (USA) for his first ever win in a major event class 45-49 men, also earning him a spot on the SA Cup podium. Nate Schwing led Bill and Bob Skinner for the overall slalom and the  South American Cup title.

A great week of training and racing ended with a Monday snow storm and we all got out of town with sun burned skin, chapped lips and over weight baggage full of Andean medal.

For complete results go to: www.fis-ski.com/uk/disciplines/masters/results.html