College of Idaho skier Hirner leads the Coyotes
Nineteen alpine ski collegiate teams competed at the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Western Regionals Feb. 16-19 at Bogus Basin near Boise.
A fourth-place finish from freshman Nina Hirner, who is an alumni from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, led The College of Idaho women's alpine ski team from Caldwell to a third-place finish in the giant slalom competition.
Hirner had a two-run time of 110.19 seconds, behind Alex Guraz and Isa Floden of Rocky Mountain College and Kristina Ress of the University of Colorado. The College of Idaho took third place to UBC in the slalom competition, but grabbed second overall in the combined, thanks to place points. So the Coyotes earned their 13th straight trip to the USCSA Nationals. Nina Hirner finished in eighth place in combined.
The College of Idaho will play host to the USCSA National Championships in Sun Valley March 8-12. Alpine, Nordic, snowboard and freestyle skiing will be contested. Nordic sprints and halfpipe open the actual competition Tuesday, March 8. Opening ceremonies are March 8 at Carol's Dollar Mountain Lodge.
Inga-Lami and Farcabinder Nordic races Saturday
Two cross-country ski races with unique themes are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26 at Quigley Nordic Center, Hailey.
The sixth annual Inga-lami (all women's ski tour), based on Norwegian legend and history, is a fun, casual skate or classic event open to all valley women. Norwegian-themed costumes are encouraged. Registration is Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and the race start is 11 a.m. Cost is $15 per person or $20 for both the INGA-Lami and Farcabinder. Food, beverages and prizes will be donated by The Vamps women's ski group, any proceeds to The Advocates.
The Farcabinder coed event is organized by a local group calling itself the "Federation Against Ridiculously Competitive Amateurs." FARCA has teamed up with the Blaine County Recreation District to stage Saturday's 12 noon race at Quigley Nordic. Costumes are encouraged. It is sponsored by Wise Guy Pizza, with proceeds to the Children's Bike Fund. Cost is $15 or $20 for both events. For more details contact Erik Heiden at 720-0565.
Girls on the Run after-school programs begin March 7
Girls on the Run of the Wood River Valley announced last week that the spring season of running for elementary and middle school girls begins Monday, March 7. The girls will start training for their spring 5-kilometer run set for May 21.
Register now for after-school training sessions at the following locations: Ketchum's Hemingway Elementary Mondays and Wednesdays 2:45-4 p.m.; Hailey Elementary and Woodside Elementary Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45-4 p.m.; Bellevue Elementary (2:45-4) and Carey School (3:15-4:30) on Mondays and Wednesdays; and Wood River Middle School in Hailey Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Call 788-7863 or visit girlsontherunwrv.org.
Senior Hockey playoffs are here
Morgan's Fine Finishes stayed hot in the Senior Hockey League season homestretch with a 5-3 win over Yoga College Thursday night in the final regular-season game on resort ice. Scoring for the winners were John Ellison Jr. (2), Tyler Hanson (2) and Vilnis Nikolaisons. Yoga goals came from Sean Buckley, Dave MacMillan and Don Saver.
Grumpy's/SV Auto Club and SV.com went to overtime and a shootout and still couldn't resolve their 2-2 tie last Tuesday at Sun Valley Skating Center. Ryan Enrico scored twice for SV.com while Cody Proctor and Pete Prekeges had the goals for Grumpy's/SV Auto Club.
Final season standings were Grumpy's 8-3-1, Yoga 6-6, Morgan's Fine Finishes 5-7 and SV.com 4-7-1. It meant that #1-seeded Grumpy's played #4 SV.com Tuesday, Feb. 22 in the first semi-final game of the Gund Cup tournament. The other semi-final Thursday, Feb. 24 at 8:50 p.m. matches #3 Morgan's vs. #2 Yoga. The championship game is Tuesday, March 1, also at 8:50 p.m.
