This past weekend the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Intermountain Masters staged its largest race event of the season at Park City (Utah) Mountain Resort.
The seventh annual Loritz/Pendleton Jans Cup Race series Jan. 10-12 played out against fierce weather creating a challenge but racer perseverance won in the end.
Two super giant slalom races were scheduled for Friday but only one was completed due to afternoon winds gusting up to 60 mph. Fast veteran racers from all over the country stacked the SG field but at the end of the day it was Class 6 Intermountain Masters racer Rick Slabinski who took top overall honors.
Slabinski (103.60 seconds) sealed the deal by tight margin. Close behind were second-place Jon Jessup from Park City (103.82) and third-place Franz “Fuxi” Fuchsberger (103.84).
Top overall women honors went to Romanian rocket Dana Alexandrescu (105.51). Her time bettered most of the men’s times. Second place went to Jenny Badger (108.15) followed by USSA Intermountain Masters chairman Amy Lanzel (111.66).
Storms moving through Park City broke Saturday and provided a window to complete a race and get two slalom runs in.
Good thing, because the Pendleton Saturday Slalom has become one of the most popular slalom races held by Intermountain Masters and contenders come in all shapes and forms.
The trophy was presented by the widow of Brett Pendleton, Shawna Pendleton to slalom specialists Craig Norton and Dana Alexandrescu. Both racers skied excellent lines in a turny course set on Payday run which left many racers scratching their heads with Did Not Finish race results.
Other notable results included exceptional showings by Judy Gooch, Karen Keating and Beth Sarazine. All are veteran ski racers who have had little training time this winter. Tom Kronthaler and Nick Hudson had a tight men’s battle.
Sunday’s weather blew in with high velocity, causing the days GS races to be cancelled.
Under such conditions it is still the custom to award the Loritz Cup based on age-handicapped results from the races that were held.
Loritz Cup women’s winner Ellen Hendickson joyfully took home her first-ever major win along with coach Bobby Skinner, a four-time Loritz Cup trophy winner. Adolph’s Restaurant hosted the final awards party.
Lanzel said the Intermountain Masters thanked these sponsors—Jans Mountain Outfitters, Dr. Phil Davidson, Park City Ski Boot, Cofer Chiropractic, and Dominator Wax.
Other scheduled events this season include the Baxter Challenge at Snow King, Wyo. Jan. 25-26, giant slaloms at Bogus Basin Feb. 1-2, the FIS Western Regionals Feb. 6-9 at Park City, plus Jans Cup races at Wolf Mountain, Utah Feb. 21-23 and at Snowbasin, Utah March 7-9.
The Soldier Mountain Masters Downhill scheduled for Feb. 10-12 near Fairfield is questionable because of low snow conditions in southern Idaho.
For more information on Masters racing, please contact Bill Skinner at bskinner@ussa.org.
Skoch Cup starts Friday on Baldy
Sponsored by Bob Gordon’s Formula Sports, the 17th annual Skoch Cup Intermountain/Northern Division Masters alpine races are back on Baldy for three days Friday through Sunday, Jan. 17-19.
The Skoch Cup features super giant slalom, giant slalom and slalom racing for those 18-and-under.
Advance registration is available at skiracereg.com, or from 7:30-9 a.m. on race day at Warm Springs Lodge. More than 60 racers have already registered, organizers said.
Sun Valley’s stop on the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Intermountain Masters 2013-14 circuit kicks off with two SG runs Friday on Warm Springs.
They are set for 10:15 a.m. and noon. Cost is $40 before Jan. 16 at 6 p.m., or $50 after. The SG awards and social hour will occur at 3 p.m. at Apple’s Bar & Grill, followed by a potluck dinner.
Friday’s super giant slalom, now called the Timmons Memorial, has been named in memory of Gene Timmons.
The well-known Intermountain Masters ski racer died March 15, 2012 at 67. A member of the Weber State University ski team, Timmons became a Vietnam War aviator for the U.S. military and had a long career as a commercial pilot.
Skoch Cup technical races on Warm Springs begin Saturday with a two-run giant slalom Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Saturday’s 6 p.m. awards party will take place at Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge.
The slalom is Sunday at 10 a.m. to wrap up the weekend. Awards occur after the second run at Warm Springs.
As always, the Sun Valley Ski Club is helping organize the weekend race series.