Ankeny wins 77th annual Fisk Trophy at Suicide Six

By Published On: February 11th, 2014Comments Off on Ankeny wins 77th annual Fisk Trophy at Suicide Six
Ankeny racing the Stowe NorAm earlier in the week (C.J. Feehan)

Ankeny racing a NorAm earlier in the week (C.J. Feehan)

SOUTH POMFRET, Vt. — This year’s Fisk Trophy slalom race at Suicide Six on Sunday (Feb. 9), the 77th consecutive running of the event, proved to be the embodiment of why ski racing is so easy to love. The race, an annual tradition for the local community, has been in existence since 1937 and is the oldest alpine trophy race in North America. Sunday’s field consisted of a wide variety of participants from seasoned veterans who narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic team to first-year FIS skiers who had yet to score any points bellow 990.

No matter what their points were, the day started the same for all racers. At the top of the lift before first run inspection, the friendly faces of the ski patrol greeted each competitor with a “pig in the blanket” treat, their own rendition of the classic recipe of a crepe-wrapped sausage link doused in maple syrup. This was, after all, a FIS race in Vermont.

The hill itself at Suicide Six is one of the more daunting and technical slalom tracks on the Eastern racing circuit. Standing atop the first pitch of “The Face” during inspection, many racers suspected the day could be a struggle. The first run course was tight and direct, perfectly suited to a skier with quick feet and fast reaction times and typical for a hill with such a steep gradient. While it opened up for a short period of time on the middle flat, athletes would face another challenge and rhythm change down the short final pitch.

For the athletes starting at the back of the pack, this race was not a very good opportunity to score. However, it was still a useful chance to gain experience by studying elite races like Michael Ankeny, Robby Kelley, and Sasha Zaitsoff, as the highest points in the top seed were 20.69.

After the dust of the first run settled, Canadian Sasha Zaitsoff came out on top closely followed by the U.S. Ski Team’s Michael Ankeny just 0.22 seconds back and Sean Higgins still within a half-second in third. Ankeny’s teammate Robby Kelley sat fifth, and local favorite Andrew McNealus slotted into ninth despite a slight hiccup at the bottom of the first pitch.

The second run was set similarly to the first with only slightly more distance between open gates on the first pitch and a bit less space through the middle flat. Interestingly enough, the fastest second run time belonged to the man who started first in the flip, former Middlebury skier Brian Shpall, who ultimately finished 14th. Another big move in the second run came from Shpall’s former teammate McNealus, as he put it all on the line and finished second on the run, propelling himself into second place overall. Ankeny managed the pressure of finishing second on the first run well and secured victory in the 77th edition of the Fisk Trophy. Robby Kelley rounded out the podium in third, while Zaitsoff tragically skied out just before the flat, losing an insurmountable amount of time to finish sixth.

 

RESULTS

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Diff. FIS Points
 1  3  934502 ANKENY Michael 1991 USA  42.96  46.30  1:29.26  13.14
 2  9  930194 MCNEALUS Andrew 1990 USA  43.70  45.89  1:29.59  +0.33  15.43
 3  4  930160 KELLEY Robby 1990 USA  43.36  46.25  1:29.61  +0.35  15.57
 4  5  530837 KELLEY Tim 1986 USA  43.35  46.41  1:29.76  +0.50  16.61
 5  6  930188 MARSHALL Tucker 1990 USA  43.90  45.97  1:29.87  +0.61  17.38
 6  8  103646 ZAITSOFF Sasha 1990 CAN  42.74  47.21  1:29.95  +0.69  17.93
 6  7  930133 HIGGINS Sean 1990 USA  43.15  46.80  1:29.95  +0.69  17.93
 8  1  103779 GARAND Dominique 1991 CAN  43.31  46.82  1:30.13  +0.87  19.18
 9  10  6531063 GINNIS Alexander 1994 USA  43.87  46.68  1:30.55  +1.29  22.10
 10  12  934566 ROBERTS Hig 1991 USA  43.67  46.90  1:30.57  +1.31  22.24
 11  11  103313 DAWSON Travis 1988 CAN  44.23  46.87  1:31.10  +1.84  25.92
 12  2  530326 WILSON Ryan 1987 USA  43.58  47.58  1:31.16  +1.90  26.34
 13  18  421722 ADDE Andreas 1988 NOR  45.54  45.98  1:31.52  +2.26  28.84
 14  20  532837 SHPALL Bryan 1989 USA  46.25  45.45  1:31.70  +2.44  30.09
 15  17  930023 COFFEY Sam 1990 USA  45.33  47.19  1:32.52  +3.26  35.78
 16  30  930174 LAWRENCE Chad 1990 USA  46.00  46.76  1:32.76  +3.50  37.45
 17  29  6530498 MCKENNA Christopher 1993 USA  45.80  47.19  1:32.99  +3.73  39.05
 18  24  6530121 FARRELL Brad 1992 USA  45.74  47.30  1:33.04  +3.78  39.40
 19  22  103706 KIDD Charlie 1990 CAN  45.71  47.53  1:33.24  +3.98  40.79
 20  34  6530108 BROOKS Dylan 1992 USA  46.04  47.24  1:33.28  +4.02  41.06
 21  25  103527 BEADON Christopher 1989 CAN  45.53  47.92  1:33.45  +4.19  42.24
 21  14  6530250 MORSE Ben 1992 USA  45.57  47.88  1:33.45  +4.19  42.24
 23  42  934505 BAILEY Nick 1991 USA  46.02  47.47  1:33.49  +4.23  42.52
 24  37  6530493 MACOMBER Sam 1993 USA  45.84  47.89  1:33.73  +4.47  44.19
 25  39  934511 BONEWALD Geoffrey 1991 USA  46.42  47.38  1:33.80  +4.54  44.67
 26  38  103881 FISHER MCCARNEY Dylan 1992 CAN  45.86  48.19  1:34.05  +4.79  46.41
 27  35  6530005 HOPKINS Kris 1991 USA  45.25  48.90  1:34.15  +4.89  47.11
 28  46  6530031 STENICKA Nicholas 1991 USA  46.27  48.54  1:34.81  +5.55  51.69
 29  49  6530507 NIEDERHAUSER Christoph 1993 USA  46.65  48.45  1:35.10  +5.84  53.70
 29  33  6530009 OGLE Jay 1991 USA  46.63  48.47  1:35.10  +5.84  53.70
 31  50  104044 READ Kevyn 1993 CAN  46.95  48.42  1:35.37  +6.11  55.58
 32  32  6530475 HOULE Carson 1993 USA  46.63  48.97  1:35.60  +6.34  57.18
 33  60  103895 MCCONVILLE Charles 1992 CAN  47.09  48.55  1:35.64  +6.38  57.46
 34  45  304050 WATANABE Takehiro 1993 JPN  46.79  48.94  1:35.73  +6.47  58.08
 35  13  110266 ANGUITA Martin 1991 CHI  47.31  48.46  1:35.77  +6.51  58.36
 36  19  104003 OVERING Robert 1993 CAN  47.05  48.90  1:35.95  +6.69  59.61
 37  52  6530826 ROBERTSON Carter 1994 USA  47.00  49.13  1:36.13  +6.87  60.86
 38  59  6530140 MCLAUGHLIN Prescott 1992 USA  47.15  49.19  1:36.34  +7.08  62.32
 39  57  6530487 KRONE Kevin 1993 USA  47.69  48.82  1:36.51  +7.25  63.50
 40  63  6530187 MAJOR Victor 1992 USA  47.32  49.41  1:36.73  +7.47  65.03
 41  66  6530099 ARTSMA Robert 1992 USA  46.91  49.84  1:36.75  +7.49  65.17
 42  51  6530262 BECK Andrew 1992 USA  47.12  49.84  1:36.96  +7.70  66.62
 43  54  6531482 FERRI James 1996 USA  47.27  49.91  1:37.18  +7.92  68.15
 44  79  6531523 O BRIEN Keilan 1996 USA  47.49  49.96  1:37.45  +8.19  70.03
 45  65  934569 RYAN Jim 1991 USA  48.11  49.55  1:37.66  +8.40  71.49
 46  58  104126 FARROW Kyle 1994 CAN  47.61  50.54  1:38.15  +8.89  74.89
 47  61  6530523 SCHUMAN Keith 1993 USA  48.04  50.51  1:38.55  +9.29  77.67
 48  88  6531392 COLLOPY Ryan 1995 USA  47.85  50.81  1:38.66  +9.40  78.43
 49  100  6531981 SLATTERY Logan 1997 USA  49.73  50.53  1:40.26  +11.00  89.55
 50  83  6530924 BARNEY Ryan 1994 USA  49.60  50.87  1:40.47  +11.21  91.00
 51  82  6530494 MALONE Dylan 1993 USA  49.69  50.79  1:40.48  +11.22  91.07
 52  116  6531882 SCHIBLI Scott 1997 USA  49.69  51.30  1:40.99  +11.73  94.62
 53  104  6531917 CAMPBELL Pate 1997 USA  49.12  51.95  1:41.07  +11.81  95.17
 54  76  934526 FRUTH Loudon 1991 USA  48.70  52.52  1:41.22  +11.96  96.21
 55  87  422402 MAURSTAD Fredrik 1995 NOR  49.08  52.22  1:41.30  +12.04  96.77
 56  112  6531892 WAGNER Kalle 1997 USA  49.95  51.74  1:41.69  +12.43  99.48
 57  91  6531123 COSENTINO Nicholas 1995 USA  50.23  51.81  1:42.04  +12.78  101.91
 58  81  6531338 MANGIACOTTI Brian 1995 USA  50.10  51.96  1:42.06  +12.80  102.05
 59  90  6531535 QUEIROLO Wyatt 1996 USA  49.91  52.30  1:42.21  +12.95  103.09
 60  111  6531678 CHARDAVOYNE Justin 1996 USA  50.77  51.93  1:42.70  +13.44  106.49
 61  105  6531101 ABADAN Taner 1995 USA  50.53  52.32  1:42.85  +13.59  107.54
 62  118  6531978 JANCO Cole 1997 USA  50.56  52.74  1:43.30  +14.04  110.66
 63  122  6531841 CHAMBERS Brian 1997 USA  51.13  52.49  1:43.62  +14.36  112.88
 64  16  930214 OLIVER Coley 1990 USA  45.53  58.76  1:44.29  +15.03  117.54
 65  75  6531542 STAMLER Max 1996 USA  52.63  52.49  1:45.12  +15.86  123.30
 66  106  6531852 GALLAGHER Christian 1997 USA  56.45  50.74  1:47.19  +17.93  137.68
 67  120  6531656 PENNY Kyle 1996 USA  53.15  54.36  1:47.51  +18.25  139.90
 68  71  6530845 BOARDMAN Michael 1994 USA  48.26  1:06.78  1:55.04  +25.78  192.21
 69  114  6531598 JORDAN Colby 1996 USA  51.64  1:03.74  1:55.38  +26.12  194.57
Disqualified 2nd run
 108  6531390 GALLAGHER Neil 1995 USA
 95  6530804 ROBERTS Murphy 1994 USA
 92  6530891 BURTON Andrew 1994 USA
 77  6531086 WILLIAMS Michael 1993 USA
 68  6530284 COFFIN Eric 1992 USA
 28  6530234 MARSHALL Craig 1992 USA
Disqualified 1st run
 115  6531760 DIXON Calvin 1996 USA
 113  6531487 GIANNOTTO Sean 1996 USA
 109  6531282 COMBE Jacob 1994 USA
 107  6531055 REILLY Sean 1994 USA
 101  6531174 MORTON Theo 1995 USA
 97  6531708 MCNAMARA P Finn 1996 USA
 80  6530882 ADAMS Kieran 1994 USA
 69  6530246 ENGELKEN Taber 1992 USA
 56  422274 GRIMSRUD Mathias Mjelde 1993 NOR
 43  6530495 MARTIN Max 1993 USA
Did not start 1st run
 117  6531926 KIESEL Peter 1997 USA
 84  6530294 BOBOTAS Tom 1992 USA
 70  6530920 LOVE Shane 1994 USA
Did not finish 2nd run
 119  221299 CARDON Casey 1997 GBR
 110  6531925 BLANCHARD Jack 1997 USA
 102  6531933 WEST Andrew 1997 USA
 89  6531885 SHEILS Paul 1997 USA
 72  6531117 BURCIN Kyle 1995 USA
 67  6531545 SULLIVAN Aleck 1996 USA
 64  6531371 TOMLINSON Henry 1995 USA
 62  6531251 RICHARD Max 1995 USA
 53  103901 SUTTON Brandon 1992 CAN
 48  934627 CLIFFORD James 1991 USA
 47  6530538 WOOLSON Thomas 1993 USA
 36  6531203 SPROCK Ty 1995 USA
 27  6531115 BROWN Griffin 1995 USA
 26  103891 KELLOCK Jonathan 1992 CAN
 23  934682 MCKENNA Matthew 1991 USA
 21  103669 BERTRAND Mathieu 1991 CAN
Did not finish 1st run
 123  221308 SHERRAS Richard 1997 GBR
 121  6531513 MATEL Samuel 1996 USA
 103  6531505 KUSUMI Kazui 1996 USA
 99  40577 LAIDLAW Harry 1996 AUS
 98  6531274 MARSHALL James 1995 USA
 96  502236 FRISK David 1997 SWE
 94  6531442 ANKENY Teddy 1996 USA
 93  6531273 LORD Hunter 1995 USA
 86  6531199 SHEILS Charles 1995 USA
 85  930230 RANDALL William 1990 USA
 78  6530831 LENNOX Trevor 1994 USA
 74  6530179 THOMAS Dylan 1992 USA
 73  430668 DZIEDZIC Andrzej 1995 POL
 55  103588 LUSH Curtis 1990 CAN
 44  104333 GEDEON-ACHI Ghassan 1993 CAN
 41  6530338 LENTZ Christoph 1992 USA
 40  934555 MULHERN Liam 1991 USA
 31  6530950 HAYES Colin 1994 USA
 15  6530117 CONE Robert 1992 USA

 

Theo Morton, intern, is a student-athlete at GMVS who competed in this year’s Fisk Trophy race. He is contributing articles to Ski Racing Magazine as part of his senior project for graduation.

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