Masters Moments: Skier's Edge championships hit Marquette; Skoch Cuppers shine at Sun Valley

The Skier’s Edge Central Masters Championships were held at Marquette Mountain, Michigan, Jan. 19-21. The Midwest has been suffering from the same snow drought that plagued the Pacific Northwest two years ago. Most areas were not able to make snow until January. Fortunately, Mother Nature finally acknowledged the season and temperatures fell enough to make adequate snowcover.
    Marquette rolled out the welcome mat, which involved heated starting shacks — we were ready to go! The super G venue was moved from Rocket to Cliffs Ridge because of snowcover. This meant a lot more rolling terrain to handle at speed.
    Steve Lindemer (Class 3) had no problems holding off the field in the first race, winning by 0.6 seconds overall. Ben Bernard (Class 1), the local favorite, was second overall by 0.2 over Scott Tater (Class 3) in third. Jeanine Koomen (Class 1) took overall honors for the women, sneaking past Heidi Lindemer (Class 3) by 0.03 seconds.

The Skier’s Edge Central Masters Championships were held at Marquette Mountain, Michigan, Jan. 19-21. The Midwest has been suffering from the same snow drought that plagued the Pacific Northwest two years ago. Most areas were not able to make snow until January. Fortunately, Mother Nature finally acknowledged the season and temperatures fell enough to make adequate snowcover.
   Marquette rolled out the welcome mat, which involved heated starting shacks — we were ready to go! The super G venue was moved from Rocket to Cliffs Ridge because of snowcover. This meant a lot more rolling terrain to handle at speed.
    Steve Lindemer (Class 3) had no problems holding off the field in the first race, winning by 0.6 seconds overall. Ben Bernard (Class 1), the local favorite, was second overall by 0.2 over Scott Tater (Class 3) in third. Jeanine Koomen (Class 1) took overall honors for the women, sneaking past Heidi Lindemer (Class 3) by 0.03 seconds.
    The afternoon race featured a big left-footer fallaway turn at the final pitch. The question “how low can you go?” — and survive? — was answered most successfully by David Samalik (Class 5), who is best remembered for his Hermann Maier-esque flight last year — he converted some heartstopping turns into the winning time overall. Steve Lindemer also traveled the low dangerous line, finishing 0.06 out of first and 0.32 ahead of Kermit Anderson (Class 5) in third.
    Heidi Lindemer reasserted her dominance over the women’s field with a 1.2-second margin of victory over Jeanine Kooman (Class 1). Three shocked competitors — Ryan Fuller (Class 2) and Class 1’s Britton Lawson and Justin Minnich couldn’t believe they had also been victims of Heidi’s domination. A round of “Chicklets” boys? That girl is fast!
    Saturday’s slalom was typical Upper Peninsula weather — cold! Most were struggling to scrape off some pretty cold wax with their Gravity Lab scraper. The field was joined by perennial fast guy Cary Adgate (Class 6), who didn’t disappoint fellow competitors in the first race, winning the overall by almost five seconds over Mike Shklovski (Class 2). Fuller finished third, 1.5 seconds out of second. Ben Bernard, who had a 0.5-second lead after the first run, hiked the second and dropped out of the medals.
    On the women’s side, Jeanine Kooman (Class 1 ) was the story, finishing fifth overall. She is a recent graduate of St. Olaf College in Minnesota who quit figure skating as a sophomore in high school to ski race. Judging from her results, St. Olaf must be the patron saint of skiing. Heidi Lindemer finished second, almost four seconds ahead of Jessica Owen (Class 1), who finished third.
    Racers tightened their Booster Straps for the second race. Adgate held off Bernard, who put together two runs without hiking, and was the overall winner by one second. Steve Pirie (Class 1) rounded out the top three, finishing 0.2 seconds in front of Steve Lindemer. Kooman, again, led the women’s field — finishing four seconds in front of Heidi Lindemer and seven seconds in front of third-place Patty Hoben.
    The banquet, at the local Ramada, featured a Skier’s Edge demonstration by U.S. Masters Skier’s Edge Team members Steve and Heidi Lindemer and great door prizes, including Uvex goggles, sunglasses and Booster straps.
    The first GS race on Sunday featured offset and unforgiving courses — especially to those who drifted low on the rock-hard final pitch.
    Bernard took the overall title from Adgate by 0.6 seconds, setting up a horse race for second. Captain Lindemer finished 0.7 out of second despite twisting his ankle the night before.
    Heidi Lindemer, ever comfortable at speed, led the women, finishing almost two seconds in front of Kooman. Patty Hoben rounded out the top three, 1.2 seconds of the pace.
    Adgate retaliated in the second race, setting a course that included an exposed rock face with surrounding pine bough clusters. This sent the course crew scrambling for more B-net. Unimpressed, Adgate reclaimed the overall title, followed by Peter Maxwell (Class 3), behind by 1.1 seconds, and Steve Lindemer 1.5 seconds out of first.
    Heidi Lindemer, flying to an almost certain win, had a crash reminiscent of Lindsey Kildow just three gates from the finish. This left the door open for Kooman, who took overall honors for the women, finishing 3.5 seconds ahead of Hoben. Lisa Chapin (Class 1) finished 1.5 seconds out of second place.
    The final awards ceremony was held on the finish area as snow began to fly. Gary Konsza — last seen on the international masters circuit in Valle Nevada, was the overall winner in Class 7. Sherrie Glas, racing for the first time, claimed top honors in Class 3.
    Nick “Tof” Tofanelli provided incredible race support in the timing and results shack. And a special thanks to Justin Minnich, Britton Lawson, Lisa Chapin, Greg Able, Ryan Fuller, Pete Maxwell, Chris Gydesen, Jeanine Kooman, and Heidi Lindemer for pulling off 12 race runs in three days consisting of six races. On tap: nationals in Big Sky. Wax ’em up and let’s race!
    Check out the Web site for more regional information and results.

New England Masters
    The lodge atmosphere at the Thomas Inneson Memorial Slalom held at Bromley, Vermont, seemed rather sedate this year — no college race on the upper hill and no Boy Scouts!
    So the day that began calm and relaxed in the lodge heated up as the Class 6 men battled it out for not only a class win, but also for the overall. Bromley’s own Bill Zimmerman opened with the fastest first run, and Matt Bemis (M4) won the second run, but it was last year’s winner, Mark George, with two solid performances who won the race.
    Some would say that George is so steady and calm in slalom that he doesn’t even look fast! Class 4 Terrence Fogerty’s third-fastest second run was enough to hold off Steve Ouellette (M2) for second place overall.
    Deserving some accolade for the slightly more aged is Class 7 Bob Andree from Greek Peak, New York, who just missed the top five by a tenth of a second. Andree held off Jerome Geurard (M3) by a mere 0
.06. An influx of New York Masters racers stiffened age-class competition and provided a reunion-like atmosphere.
    No story would be complete without mention of Matt Aeschliman’s multiple linked recoveries in the second run. He skied with Bode-esque determination toward the finish line, but blew his Super Seed top-three result and settled for second-page results.
    Providing some first-run entertainment was Ski Racing’s own Bill McCollom. He performed what appeared to be a full-twisting full-full — eggbeater style — after ramming his tip into the top gate of the flush. The mishap left him in pieces all over the hill, but fortunately uninjured.
    Once again, Jessie McAleer pushed the men to the limit. Jessie skied to fifth place in the men’s race, bested only by Zimmerman and George. Class 5 Margaret Vaughn’s second-fastest second run just wasn’t enough to catch youngster Lauren Bennett (Class 1). Taking full advantage of a buff course and the No. 2 bib, Anne Nordhoy skied elegantly to a fourth place overall. Inspired by Nadine Price’s slalom results last week (W4), Barb Brumbaugh, powered by a 101-degree fever (or was that a hot flash?), pulled out a top-five slalom result.
    Age-class highlights: It appears that Steve Foley is back from a broken leg and ACL injury. Steve moved to within 0.03 of Haldor Reinholt in the first run, pushing Haldor to perform in the second run to maintain Class 9 bragging rights. In the closest age-class race, it was Pete Donaghy (Class 8) holding off charging Chuck Thorndike by a mere 0.04 in overall time.
    The Janeway Cup is a memorial to the late Senator Edward Janeway, one of the founders of Stratton Mountain and a promoter of masters ski racing. The prestigious award is given to the fastest man and woman over the age of 40. And for this year, the cup went to local racer Scott Hardy and Nadine Price. Both racers have won the cup in the past,  but it’s been seven long years for Price to return to her old GS form. Price, returning to an overall top-three podium after three broken legs since 2002, decided this fall that “recovery is over,” she’s back
    Last year’s winner, Scott Hardy (M5) was taken by surprise as a newcomer to New England Masters racing, Randy Detrick (M2), took a 1.24-second lead over Hardy in the first run. Hardy answered with the fastest second run, but Detrick stole the win by 0.64. There was more new blood in the top five as Canadian Maxine Masse (M1) held on to third place overall.
    Steve Ouellette (M2) skied consistently and passed Doug Carpenter (M5) when Carpenter made some “witnessed” errors on the course, but was able to keep it together to finish the run. The next three Class 3 racers deserve credit as Alex Gadbois, Jerome Guerard and Mark Budreski duked it out for not only sixth, seventh and eighth overall, but also for the top three places within their age group – tough class.
    Honors are extended to ninth- and 10th-place finishers Bob Andree (M7) and Matt Bemis (M4) on this long, tough course, full of surprises, which left many wishing for an oxygen tank in the finish coral.
    Proving that he’s still got stamina and courage, Duffy Dodge (M12) held off many double-digit classes younger than him (except for Doug Wisse, Class 10). Dick “Rocket” Prentice, Bob McGrath and Philippe Marielle (M10), and Class 11 Larry Voelkerand Alphonse Sevigny got topped by Dodge. Great job Duffy!
    In the women’s race, well … McAleer (W3) won … again. Last year’s overall winner, Liz Mezzetti (W1), crashed and hiked and still managed to pull off eighth overall. Lauren Bennett (W1) was steady enough to hang on to second place overall as Price (W6) laid down the third-fastest time and made up 1.20 seconds on Bennett. Price settled for third place overall and the Janeway Cup win.
    Next in the results was Gay Folland (W7), who is always willing to point ’em down the hill when necessary. Newcomer Abbi Lefebvre (W1) was fifth, holding off SMS alumni Patti Lane (W5) and Class 9 Anne Nordhoy.
    Check out full results at www.nemasters.org.

PNSA Masters
   PNSA Masters raced in the Rosenquist-Vala Memorial Jan. 20-21. A little bit of snow was falling now and then for the two giant slaloms. A little low overcast (some would call it fog) now and then. Varying temperatures from cold to colder. All in all, good conditions.
    The snow and hill preparation were superb. The Crystal Mountain grooming team dealt with all the new snow and the crew that put all the safety gear up and set the courses had a mountain that was ideal for racing — firm and fast.
    The Crystal Mountain Alpine Club should be lauded for the professional job it did with the race — ample volunteers from registration to timing to gatekeeping; a team of coaches that was everywhere on the course replacing or resetting gates; and coordination that made sure everything came off on time.
    On day one, Tamara Lauba, Stephanie Kampschror and Karen Kilian led the women, while John Phillips, Tyler Milligan and Gilbert Matthew set the men’s pace. Day two saw Lauba win the women’s overall with Kampschror second and Sara Peshkin third. For the men on day two, Phillips, Milligan and Matthew again reached the podium.
    Check out the results at www.pnsamasters.org.

Intermountain Masters
    The Intermountain Masters ski racers traveled to beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho, for the ninth annual Skoch Cup. This is a prestigious three-event competition including super G, giant slalom and slalom with the winners determined for both men and women via total time over all the events.
    This year, Chris Katzenberger won the women’s competition for the second time and ski hero Victor (The Inflictor) Roy grabbed top honors for the men. Katzenberger edged Anna Droege from Sun Valley, who is skiing wonderfully, while Roy battled with Sun Valley’s own John Campbell to gain the top spot. Campbell, who often tests his ski racing mettle among the juniors with his son, had the lead after Saturday’s GS, but he ran into trouble on the first run of Sunday’s slalom near the bottom of the Cozy course, allowing Roy to claim the coveted prize for the first time.
    Conditions remained ideal over the three days for the large field. The cold weather and firm conditions were a classic Sun Valley backdrop for this traditional event. People traveled from as far away as Minnesota and Australia and were rewarded with a fantastic weekend. Saturday night was a treat for everyone as the organizers held a very nice awards banquet in the Warm Springs lodge.
    Park City racers who traveled to the event gave a very strong showing. Dana Alexandrescu Leach led the Utah contingent with victories in both the slalom and giant slalom. She won the GS ahead of Katzenberger and Sun Valley's Heather Black.
    Also, Grant Donovan traveled with his family and brought home a third-place finish in the slalom while Brian Frost took first in class in the GS. Coach Don Sears showed he can “do” as well as coach with high finishes in both giant slalom and super G. Amy Lanzel led the Park City group in natural hot springs bathing as well as great skiing despite a tu
mble in Sunday’s slalom (reminder: Saturday night is followed by Sunday racing).
    Other standout stories include very high style points in slalom fashion from first-time competitor Alex Kuczynski. She is planning a new line of racing suits for next year, including a “mermaid” look and something like a “natual nude” look, according to some reports. Special consultant for the project is reported to be Kristi Lee, made famous by her pink suit of years past (think ski bunny). This pink suit sewed by Kristi’s mother is still in the wardrobe but only comes out for special occasions, according to her husband, Sam Lee. Linda Wagner and Carol Whalen will be joining the new venture in executive management positions.
    Also of note is the return to masters racing of Tom Melhuse from Montana. He came very close to taking the top spot away from Bob Sarchett in the highly competitive Class 8 that also features Royal McClure, Rauli Karjalainen and Gene Timmons.
    The Lees led a large Boise race contingent, including Roman Schwartzman. Schwartzman had a breakthrough in slalom, literally, as his confidence-induced crash in Sunday’s event left him in need of a new ski. Bill Vernon also made the trip from Boise and won praise not only for his fine carving but also for his new goatee. The Boise racing spirit also shined brightly in Byron Barfus and Brian Cohen in Class 1 men.
    All of this great fun was made possible through the hard work from Sun Valley Ski Club members Bob Sarchett, Bob Dreyer, Jackson Allred and many others. Special thanks to Rick Slabinski, Pat Savaria, Meri Stratton and Chris Able.
    This weekend, the Intermountain racers travel to Park City Mountain Resort for the Loritz Classic.

New York Masters
    This weekend, New York Masters will finally kick off the 2006-07 season at Holimont and Holiday Valley.
    Saturday, Holimont hosts two GS races, 9:30 a.m. start, registration starts at 8 at the race center. Sunday, Holiday hosts two slaloms, with 9:30 start, 8 a.m. registration.
    Awards party to follow after both days with food, beer and wine, and prizes
from sponsors Snow Country, Swix, Sprint, Constellation Brands and Coyote Eyewear.
    Check out the Web page www.nymasters.org for further updates. Also please preregister, there is a form at the Web site, and e-mail it to Nancy, so racers can spend less time in the lodge and more time on the slopes.