By Barb Brumbaugh

 

The group B men (Class 5-7) raced giant slalom, while group C (women) and group D (men over 60) raced super G at the US Masters Nationals at Big Sky, Montana. Warm temperatures continue with the Big Sky race department doing a tremendous job of holding together a viable racing venue.

 

In the Super G it was Lisa Densmore (W5-EA) taking charge of the women’s field. Jen Kaufman (W3-RM) held off Heidi Lindemer (W3-CN) for an age class win and Pepi Neubauer (M8-EA) eked out a victory over Pacific Northwest’s Knut Olberg. Tom Melhuse (ND) also in class 8 placed third overall. Neubauer and Olberg, forever competitive with each other, are the only men to hold off Densmore and Kaufman.

Duffy Dodge earned gold. Nadine Price and Jane Cooke grabbed silver. Alphonse Sevigny snatched a bronze in class 11 as did Margaret Vaughn in a tough class 5. Steve Foley, Barb Brumbaugh and Kerry Brennan all earned fourth place finish points and Dick Calvert and Phillippe Marielle with fifth places contributed towards the divisions cup. Far West leads with the slightest margin over Eastern and won the case of beer, which they shared.

 

In tight class competition, the ladies class 9’s duked it out, and it was Anne Nordhoy (EA) taking the victory over Nancy Auseklis (IM) and Lilla Gidlow (CN) with only 0.45 separating the three racers.

In the men’s group B giant slalom it was Rocky Mountain racer Erik Klemme taking a victory in an incredibly tough class 5. Greg Sarkis (EA) with an awesome second run won the second run, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Klemme. Lars Friberg (M5-IM) overtook Bob Skinner (M5-IM) and Ron Matelich (ND) to grab third place overall and third in class 5. It’s certainly a tough class when previous national champions place in the middle of class competition.

 

In another tight class competition, it was Bill Zimmerman in class 6 (EA) victorious over Far West’s Pierre Jeangirard and Intermountain’s Ken Dreyer. Only 0.21 separated the three racers.

Cooler temperatures are on the way and competition continues on Wednesday with the women racing giant slalom and the A/B men racing super G. The courses have started out firm, but by afternoon a bit towards mushy. Skies are partly cloudy, just enough to get that “went out West sunburn kind of look”.

 

Quote of the day: “Can anyone tell me how to finish a race?” Willi Scroggins (M5-PN).

 

Results available at: http://ussamasters.org/2007/nationals