by KEN DREYER
Express Correspondent
Local Sun Valley Ski Team coach Erika Hogan, 26, won the women's 2010 overall Skoch Cup USSA master's ski race crown and local racer John Campbell, 47, won the men's side in ideal racing conditions over the weekend.
Hogan's and Campbell's victories won them $300 each in prize money. Second place women's finisher Dana Alexandrescu, 33, took home $200 and local third-place finisher Anna Droege, 70, won $100. Mike Falk, 48, was second for the men and Victor Roy, 60, placed third.
On Friday, 76 competitors raced on a super G course that began on upper Greyhawk, then dove down into Hemingway. Hogan won on the women's side with Alexandrescu in second. Katherine Suttor, a visiting college student from Australia, rounded out the top three for the ladies. Sun Valley Ski Team coach Carlos Rixon made winning the men's division look easy, but not without a good chase from fellow coach Nate Schwing who wound up in second place. Third place for the men went to Campbell.
Saturday's giant slalom had a large field of 97 racers vying for honors on a steep, 31-gate course on Hemingway. Hogan demonstrated her solid skills, winning both runs to take first place for the ladies with Alexandrescu in second place and Chris Katzenberger in third. The top three men were Campbell, Matt Murphy and Tim Hill.
Because of a large field of 72 racers in Sunday's slalom, separate courses were set. The field was divided between men under age 60, and men over 60 and women. Perfect snow conditions prevailed, which provided equal opportunity for all racers. Once again, Hogan led the ladies with two impressive runs, Alexandrescu gave a good show but wound up in second while Katzenberger was third. In the men's over 60 division, Jim Ragan took both runs for first place followed by Tom Kronthaler. Local ski legend Bob Sarchett settled for third place. In the men's open division, Hill won both runs to take the victory while Campbell and Ben Yurga fought it out for second and third.
Overall winners were determined by adding the times of all three races.
Organizers thanked Sun Valley Resort and the Sun Valley Race Department for hosting the event. Formula Sports provided sponsorship and supplied door prizes at Saturday's awards ceremony, held at Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge.
Men's class champions
A/B slalom: Robert Bloyer, Ken Dreyer, Brian Frost, Cam Fraser, Tim Hill, Mark Barkus.
C/D slalom: John Droege, Harry Baxter, Carl Pomey, Rich Robertson, Bob Sarchett, James Ragan.
Giant slalom: Droege, Baxter, James Tallackson, Carl Fullman, Nick Hudson, Bob Dreyer, Dan Kurdy, Ken Dreyer, Alan Rickers, Lou Mauro, John Campbell.
Super G: Droege, Baxter, Herb Nolan, Keith Thompson, Edgar Fenwick, Victor Roy, John Reagle, Richard Slabinski, Campbell, Nate Schwing, Carl Rixon.
Overall champion John Campbell carves around a gate during the men’s giant slalom Saturday. Campbell captured the superseed class on Saturday.
Courtesy photo by Heather Black
