News
This is a rule, isn't it? A Battle Mountain racer must win an alpine race, right?
Bryan Aubel held with tradition, winning Friday's regular-season finale, a slalom up at Ski Cooper under less than ideal conditions.
Now, it's time to turn everyone's attention to state. Thursday is giant slalom and Nordic freestyle at Beaver Creek and the Vail Nordic Center, respectively. It's slalom and classic on Friday.
And the local teams added to their copious numbers with two last-chance qualifiers Friday. Eagle Valley's Ella Guzik and Battle Mountain's Nichole Affleck put down state runs and can breathe a sigh of relief.
Up at Ski Cooper, the racers learned what skiing was like before man-made snow, and all involved are looking forward to racing at Beaver Creek next week. By all accounts, it was nasty and a day more suited to one's rock skis.
Thus, give credit to Aubel for winning the event. The same goes for the Huskies' Brinton Barry (third) and Kevan Aubel (unofficially in the top 10) for surviving.
The girls weren't as lucky for Battle Mountain. Kendall VanHee, who is the favorite in any high school race she enters, popped a ski early and was done, as did Meghan Desrochers.
“Meghan and Kendall did nothing wrong,” Huskies coach Simon Marsh said. “Overall, there were really tough conditions. There was low snow and they had to ice up the turns so that everyone wouldn't wear out the snow. There was nothing they could do.”
There is also the consolation that the Huskies got the bad luck of losing a shoe out of their collective system. Anything can, and, very often does at the state meet.
For VMS' trio, all of whom are already qualified in both GS and slalom, the story of the day was Billy Mitchell. Now a junior, he broke his leg three years ago skiing slalom on Golden Peak.
After another fall in practice, where he thought he did the same to his other leg — he sustained no major injury, but it was a scare — Mitchell has been understandably reticent to let it go in slalom.
He did so Friday and took 12th.
“This year, we really didn't talk about it,” VMS coach Francois Nanin said. “He really took off today. He took charge. To see him on the gnarly snow and the ruts, I didn't recognize him.”
Mitchell was in a VMS sandwich between Henri Minervini (top 10) and Harrison Alonzo (15th).
Eagle Valley's race was at Aspen and Guzlik stole the show with Angela Giovagnoli and Meghan Muehlethaler scoring for the ladies and Johnny Bailey, Austin Darrough and Matt Genelin doing so for the gents.
“I think we're doing really well,” Devils coach Mike Hasselhorst said. “We've gotten three girls and three boys qualified. We've had our ups and downs, but it's been a good experience.”
Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.
Bryan Aubel held with tradition, winning Friday's regular-season finale, a slalom up at Ski Cooper under less than ideal conditions.
Now, it's time to turn everyone's attention to state. Thursday is giant slalom and Nordic freestyle at Beaver Creek and the Vail Nordic Center, respectively. It's slalom and classic on Friday.
And the local teams added to their copious numbers with two last-chance qualifiers Friday. Eagle Valley's Ella Guzik and Battle Mountain's Nichole Affleck put down state runs and can breathe a sigh of relief.
Up at Ski Cooper, the racers learned what skiing was like before man-made snow, and all involved are looking forward to racing at Beaver Creek next week. By all accounts, it was nasty and a day more suited to one's rock skis.
Thus, give credit to Aubel for winning the event. The same goes for the Huskies' Brinton Barry (third) and Kevan Aubel (unofficially in the top 10) for surviving.
The girls weren't as lucky for Battle Mountain. Kendall VanHee, who is the favorite in any high school race she enters, popped a ski early and was done, as did Meghan Desrochers.
“Meghan and Kendall did nothing wrong,” Huskies coach Simon Marsh said. “Overall, there were really tough conditions. There was low snow and they had to ice up the turns so that everyone wouldn't wear out the snow. There was nothing they could do.”
There is also the consolation that the Huskies got the bad luck of losing a shoe out of their collective system. Anything can, and, very often does at the state meet.
For VMS' trio, all of whom are already qualified in both GS and slalom, the story of the day was Billy Mitchell. Now a junior, he broke his leg three years ago skiing slalom on Golden Peak.
After another fall in practice, where he thought he did the same to his other leg — he sustained no major injury, but it was a scare — Mitchell has been understandably reticent to let it go in slalom.
He did so Friday and took 12th.
“This year, we really didn't talk about it,” VMS coach Francois Nanin said. “He really took off today. He took charge. To see him on the gnarly snow and the ruts, I didn't recognize him.”
Mitchell was in a VMS sandwich between Henri Minervini (top 10) and Harrison Alonzo (15th).
Eagle Valley's race was at Aspen and Guzlik stole the show with Angela Giovagnoli and Meghan Muehlethaler scoring for the ladies and Johnny Bailey, Austin Darrough and Matt Genelin doing so for the gents.
“I think we're doing really well,” Devils coach Mike Hasselhorst said. “We've gotten three girls and three boys qualified. We've had our ups and downs, but it's been a good experience.”
Sports Editor Chris Freud can be reached at 970-748-2934 or cfreud@vaildaily.com.
