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ENLARGE
Vail Mountain School's Karlie Moore pushes her way up a short hill during the Colorado State Nordic classical race Thursday in Vail. Moore placed second in the women's race, helping her team win.
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ENLARGE
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Eagle Valley's Ethan Smith pushes himself through a flat section just ahead of Nederland's Trevor Ranney during Thursday's race in Vail. Smith finished right behind Ranney for 22nd.
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ENLARGE
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Vail Mountain School's Sean Woods, left, pushes his way up towards Clear Creek's Brian Stewart during Thursday's race in Vail. Woods came in 13th.
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VAIL - The Vail Mountain girls' Nordic team is back on track, and at just the right time.
After a slight hiccup last weekend at Carbondale, where the Gore Rangers took second, and only edged Summit by two points, they won the classical portion of the state meet Thursday at the Vail Athletic Field.
"We had kind of a tough weekend in (Carbondale)," said Vail Mountain coach Dan Weiland. "We struggled a bit with the wax, and we felt like we let our girls down. I think the girls had a lot on their mind, but they came back and rebounded really well from that."
The Gore Rangers added another win to their tally this year, edging out Aspen 168-163, while also taking care of rival Summit (153). Vail Christian was fourth for girls with 150 points.
Karlie Moore led the way for Vail Mountain, taking second in 17 minutes, 6 seconds, while Summit's Briana Perkins clocked in at 16:45 for the win.
"We just needed to have a good day because Summit is our biggest rival, and Briana always skis well," Moore said.
Vail Mountain had three of its racers in the top eight, and placed all four in the top 12.
"You're doing pretty good when all your girls skiing for your are in the top 12," Weiland said.
Moore, the fourth skier to start in the 15-second interval format, passed the three racers who started before her in the first kilometer. For the rest of the race, however, Moore had to cut through a freshly fallen blanket of snow, costing her some time.
"We knew it was going to be a battle with Briana," Weiland said. "For Karlie to be second at state as a junior is pretty impressive."
Vail Christian's Molly McGee was fourth at 17.37, again leading the way for the three-person Saints' team.
"I felt it was one of my stronger races," McGee said.
Jessica Linder had one of her best races, placing ninth at 18:36.
After a slight hiccup last weekend at Carbondale, where the Gore Rangers took second, and only edged Summit by two points, they won the classical portion of the state meet Thursday at the Vail Athletic Field.
"We had kind of a tough weekend in (Carbondale)," said Vail Mountain coach Dan Weiland. "We struggled a bit with the wax, and we felt like we let our girls down. I think the girls had a lot on their mind, but they came back and rebounded really well from that."
The Gore Rangers added another win to their tally this year, edging out Aspen 168-163, while also taking care of rival Summit (153). Vail Christian was fourth for girls with 150 points.
Karlie Moore led the way for Vail Mountain, taking second in 17 minutes, 6 seconds, while Summit's Briana Perkins clocked in at 16:45 for the win.
"We just needed to have a good day because Summit is our biggest rival, and Briana always skis well," Moore said.
Vail Mountain had three of its racers in the top eight, and placed all four in the top 12.
"You're doing pretty good when all your girls skiing for your are in the top 12," Weiland said.
Moore, the fourth skier to start in the 15-second interval format, passed the three racers who started before her in the first kilometer. For the rest of the race, however, Moore had to cut through a freshly fallen blanket of snow, costing her some time.
"We knew it was going to be a battle with Briana," Weiland said. "For Karlie to be second at state as a junior is pretty impressive."
Vail Christian's Molly McGee was fourth at 17.37, again leading the way for the three-person Saints' team.
"I felt it was one of my stronger races," McGee said.
Jessica Linder had one of her best races, placing ninth at 18:36.
"I was planning on getting in the top 15," Linder said. "We're really happy about (fourth) because were still a team of three and can compete with all the other teams."
Vail Mountain's Kaitlin Zdechlik stormed into the fifth-place spot at 18:07.
"It was exciting," said Zdechlik, who jumped when she heard how well she placed. "I wanted to do well this week because I hadn't been doing well the past couple weeks."
The Gore Rangers' Lani Bruntz took eighth (18.27), while teammate Christiana White closed things out in 12th (19.10). Vail Christian's Lettie Fickling was 29th at 21.23.
Despite racing with two broken bones in her left arm, Battle Mountain's Kendall Wilson took 31st at 22.03.
"I'm in a little bit of pain," Wilson said. "The second lap was more of a struggle than the first."
Julia Burnett, the Huskies' other racer, was 37th at 23.59.
Eagle Valley's only racer for the girls was freshman Molly Walker, who had a breakout race to take 36th at 22.47.
"I was really nervous and didn't think about it at all, and I was glad I didn't," Walker said.
Skiers' paradise
The Aspen boys' Nordic team may have stolen the show with a podium sweep Thursday, but the three Eagle County teams had some magic of their own.
Vail Mountain, with the fourth and fifth finishers, edged out rival Summit to take second. Eagle Valley, without the services of its top skier, was sixth, while Battle Mountain's two skiers had great races for eighth.
Vail Mountain's Kaitlin Zdechlik stormed into the fifth-place spot at 18:07.
"It was exciting," said Zdechlik, who jumped when she heard how well she placed. "I wanted to do well this week because I hadn't been doing well the past couple weeks."
The Gore Rangers' Lani Bruntz took eighth (18.27), while teammate Christiana White closed things out in 12th (19.10). Vail Christian's Lettie Fickling was 29th at 21.23.
Despite racing with two broken bones in her left arm, Battle Mountain's Kendall Wilson took 31st at 22.03.
"I'm in a little bit of pain," Wilson said. "The second lap was more of a struggle than the first."
Julia Burnett, the Huskies' other racer, was 37th at 23.59.
Eagle Valley's only racer for the girls was freshman Molly Walker, who had a breakout race to take 36th at 22.47.
"I was really nervous and didn't think about it at all, and I was glad I didn't," Walker said.
Skiers' paradise
The Aspen boys' Nordic team may have stolen the show with a podium sweep Thursday, but the three Eagle County teams had some magic of their own.
Vail Mountain, with the fourth and fifth finishers, edged out rival Summit to take second. Eagle Valley, without the services of its top skier, was sixth, while Battle Mountain's two skiers had great races for eighth.
Aspen's Noah Hoffman won the race in 13:32, almost a minute ahead of the next finisher. Hoffman also won the 3A state title in cross country this fall.
Tony Ryerson was Vail Mountain's top finisher, in fourth at 15:19.
"It was one of my better races all year," Ryerson said. "We definitely wanted to beat Summit - that was our goal."
Four of the Gore Rangers' six racers were in the top 13, to Summit's one.
Vail Mountain's Chris Woods was fifth at 15:28, although his look at the finish line belied his stellar result.
"I tend to focus on negative things in the race," Woods later said. "I feel like there were a lot of sections where I could do much better, but after seeing the results, it demonstrates how far we've progressed this season. Our coaches have been such great influences in our life and have helped us succeed."
Weiland thought Ryerson and Woods had great races, and was a bit encouraged by Woods' reaction.
"If you're disappointed, great, let's see what happens when you're not disappointed - that could be scary," Weiland said.
Wes Batts rounded out the points for Vail Mountain in 12th at 16:14, with teammate and Skimeister racer Sean Woods right behind. David Deline was 23rd and Rob Fitz was 31st.
"Wes had a nice result," Weiland said. "It's taken him all season to get there. He's come on real strong, and we're excited about that."
Battle Mountain's Mitch Hendrix, the current Skimeister leader, was 17th at 16:24.
"The main thing I was concerned about was bringing the fight, and I think I did," Hendrix said.
In the giant slalom race later, Hendrix was 17th and Woods was 43rd.
Tony Ryerson was Vail Mountain's top finisher, in fourth at 15:19.
"It was one of my better races all year," Ryerson said. "We definitely wanted to beat Summit - that was our goal."
Four of the Gore Rangers' six racers were in the top 13, to Summit's one.
Vail Mountain's Chris Woods was fifth at 15:28, although his look at the finish line belied his stellar result.
"I tend to focus on negative things in the race," Woods later said. "I feel like there were a lot of sections where I could do much better, but after seeing the results, it demonstrates how far we've progressed this season. Our coaches have been such great influences in our life and have helped us succeed."
Weiland thought Ryerson and Woods had great races, and was a bit encouraged by Woods' reaction.
"If you're disappointed, great, let's see what happens when you're not disappointed - that could be scary," Weiland said.
Wes Batts rounded out the points for Vail Mountain in 12th at 16:14, with teammate and Skimeister racer Sean Woods right behind. David Deline was 23rd and Rob Fitz was 31st.
"Wes had a nice result," Weiland said. "It's taken him all season to get there. He's come on real strong, and we're excited about that."
Battle Mountain's Mitch Hendrix, the current Skimeister leader, was 17th at 16:24.
"The main thing I was concerned about was bringing the fight, and I think I did," Hendrix said.
In the giant slalom race later, Hendrix was 17th and Woods was 43rd.
With Eagle Valley senior Kyle Simonett out with a high fever, junior Ethan Smith stepped up for his best race of the season, claiming 22nd at 17:03.
"I hadn't really burned it that hard in any of the other races this year, and I wanted to leave it all out there today," Smith said. "My technique was good and tempo was pretty fast."
Sophomore Conor Wallace was Battle Mountain's standout racer, eclipsing his best previous finishes to tie for 26th.
"He was shocked," said Battle Mountain coach Rich Houghton.
Eagle Valley's Nick Brink was 34th, followed by teammates Sage Smith in 38th and James McGoodwin in 40th.
"All the guys did pretty well today," said Eagle Valley coach Glen Ewing. "I didn't see anyone who didn't put everything they had out there."
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Team point totals:
Girls: Aspen - 326
Summit - 320
Middle Park - 304
Vail Mountain - 292
Steamboat Springs - 232
"I hadn't really burned it that hard in any of the other races this year, and I wanted to leave it all out there today," Smith said. "My technique was good and tempo was pretty fast."
Sophomore Conor Wallace was Battle Mountain's standout racer, eclipsing his best previous finishes to tie for 26th.
"He was shocked," said Battle Mountain coach Rich Houghton.
Eagle Valley's Nick Brink was 34th, followed by teammates Sage Smith in 38th and James McGoodwin in 40th.
"All the guys did pretty well today," said Eagle Valley coach Glen Ewing. "I didn't see anyone who didn't put everything they had out there."
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Team point totals:
Girls: Aspen - 326
Summit - 320
Middle Park - 304
Vail Mountain - 292
Steamboat Springs - 232
Battle Mountain - 218
Evergreen - 211
Nederland - 188
Vail Christian - 150
Eagle Valley - 143
Lake County - 96
Clear Creek - 67
CRMS - 39
Boys: Summit - 333
Aspen - 323
Middle Park - 273
Nederland - 251
Evergreen - 211
Nederland - 188
Vail Christian - 150
Eagle Valley - 143
Lake County - 96
Clear Creek - 67
CRMS - 39
Boys: Summit - 333
Aspen - 323
Middle Park - 273
Nederland - 251
Battle Mountain - 248
Vail Mountain - 247
Steamboat Springs - 231
Evergreen - 202
Lake County - 149.5
Eagle Valley - 119
CRMS - 79
Ridge View - 65
Clear Creek - 57
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For more state skiing coverage, see pages A30-32
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Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.
Vail Mountain - 247
Steamboat Springs - 231
Evergreen - 202
Lake County - 149.5
Eagle Valley - 119
CRMS - 79
Ridge View - 65
Clear Creek - 57
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For more state skiing coverage, see pages A30-32
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Sports Writer Ian Cropp can be reached at 748-2935 or icropp@vaildaily.com.
