Colorado Leads, Utah Surging At Western State

Friday, February 1, 2008 – by Curtis Snyder, RMISASkiing.com

Results Available On Schedule/Results Page

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. – A fresh foot of snow overnight Thursday and continued poor visibility put a hamper on the Western State Invitational Friday here in the third of four regular season Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association meets. Both the men’s and women’s Nordic classical races were able to finish as was the first of two runs in the women’s alpine giant slalom.

The women’s GS results will stand with one run complete while the men’s GS will be postponed and made up at a later date.

Colorado leads after the first day with 234.5 team points, just ahead of a surging Utah team that currently has 228 points. Denver is third (218.5), followed by New Mexico (161), Nevada (144), Montana State (137) and Alaska Anchorage (134).

Utah finished 1-2 in the men’s 10-kilometer classical for the second straight race with Even Sletten grabbing the win in 29:10.3 and Snorri Einarsson just 12 seconds behind.

“This was probably our best day ever,” Utah Skiing Director Eli Brown said. “It was exciting to see Even win for the first time. Snorri was a strong second. Everyone did a great job dealing with the altitude and racing their hardest. Once again, head Nordic coach Wendy (Wagner) and assistant coach Kristina (Casey) did a great job with the skis.”

CU’s Maria Grevsgaard cruised to her fifth victory of the season in five Nordic races, claiming the 5-kilometer classic in 19:03.7. Denver’s Antje Maempel finished second just 26 seconds behind as Grevsgaard won her 13th career race, tying the Buffs’ career record.

“It’s always exciting to make a record, but it’s kind of just like the cherry on top,” Grevsgaard said. “I just go out and try to do my best, I’m not thinking about records. I didn’t even realize it until somebody told me afterwards.”

New Mexico’s Malin Hemmingsson won the abbreviated women’s giant slalom, claiming her first career GS win, in a time of 1:11.15, besting Utah’s Eva Huckova (1:12.21) and CU’s Lisa Perricone (1:12.47). A total of 51 racers finished their first run before the event was called.

“We are lucky to come out of today with no injuries,” Brown said. “The conditions were pretty scary. It is snowing hard and the visibility is poor.”

“The conditions were unfavorable and it was affecting everyone and it was dangerous,” CU Ski Director Richard Rokos said. “The slalom should be easier to finish because you are working with a smaller geographic area and it will be easier to maintain if the conditions keep up.”

More snow is expected overnight, but all teams will be eager to get through the day.

“Our season is already extended and we’ll have to find a substitute race (for the men’s GS),” Rokos said. “It could be another challenging day but we’ll have to do what we can to get through it.”