Ankeny, Cohee, and Megarry on the podium in Vail.

On the final day (Dec. 20) of NorAm racing in Vail, Colo., Aspen-based Team Geronimo’s Nick Cohee landed his career first Continental Cup victory, besting his previous top result of runner-up in Stowe, Vt. from March 2012. Cohee, a former University of Utah standout who has continued his ski racing pursuit post-college, was followed on the giant slalom podium by Canadian development team athlete Morgan Megarry, formerly of the University of Vermont, in second and the U.S. Ski Team’s Michael Ankeny in third. Both Megarry and Ankeny also posted career-best finishes with their results in the race.

It was a wintry day in Vail, and the start was delayed due to 4-6 inches of fresh snow, but the race crew and athletes put in a joint effort to slip out the track and get down to a firm surface.

“Confidence and motivation are huge in ski racing, and I knew that in order to be on the podium I had to throw it down to beat guys like Daver (Chodounsky), (Dustin) Cook and the rest of these rippers who are really on one at the moment,” said Cohee. “I watched a lot of video from the previous day’s GS and knew I needed to be more patient at the top of the turn. I just came from behind, trusted my skiing and arced.”

For Ankeny, primarily known for his slalom skills as a product of Buck Hill, it was the first time he stood on the podium in a Continental Cup GS race in his career as well as his first time on the podium so far this season. Megarry’s previous best NorAm GS result was eighth, also scored in Vail last year. Canadian national team athletes Dustin Cook and Ford Swette rounded out the top 5, but the University of New Mexico’s Michael Bansmer was able to squeeze ahead of Swedish ski star Jon Olsson to take sixth. Bansmer’s previous best NorAm result in GS had been an 18th.

“I am stoked right now, this is a first for me and I’m feeling the momentum and confidence,” added an excited Cohee.

Results