Masters Ski Racing: Cannon (February 21st) & Loon (February 22nd) - by Jen Calder

     Veteran Masters racer Peter Dumont sees slalom gates as Sirens; supple
seductresses luring skiers to dubious destiny.  Saturdays race may evidence
his point. Despite temperatures in the 30s, the weather was insidiously
chilling and skies remained overcast for the l998 Hochgebirge team challenge
at Cannon Mountain.  Some form of frozen precipitation hung heavy in the
air, collecting on goggles, compromising vision. The twisty course had been
salted and it held up like titanium, defying even the sharpest edges and the
strongest legs to sustain purchase throughout the 48-gate run to the bottom
of the Rocket Trail .  One hundred fifty-seven competitors assembled for the
oldest continuing Masters race in the country and hurled themselves from
the precipitous starting gate into one of the most challenging slalom
courses of the season.  The mens field was decimated, and the carnage was
indiscriminate, snagging experienced veterans like Egil Nilssen and Duffy
Dodge, and youthful gate busters like Willie Wescott and Ron Gifford.  Almost
half their ranks DNF-ed.


     The attrition rate played havoc with the teams. Three members of each
4-person team must complete both runs.  Only the Comets, the WVBBTS, the
Wildcats, and the debut Victoria's Secret teams finished enough racers to
score.  The winning men's team, Wildcats 1-2, comprised unbeatable
power-paragons Chris Johnson, Brian Dewsnap, David Lamb and Jim Harding.
 The women's team victory was scored by the Victoria's Secret team,
featuring svelte superathletes Brooks Axelson, Heidi Harring, Kim Wolff and
Kirsten Bosworth.  The Hochgebirge awarded three special prizes to
individuals: the Alexander Bright award to the fastest male finisher, this
year to Patrick McNamara; the Clarita Bright award to Joanie Barthold,
fastest female finisher; and the Thomas Dabney award, honoring the fastest,
oldest racer, to Rod Aller.


          In individual results, Patrick McNamara sliced through the
unforgiving course with the fastest time, with Bob Hill claiming second
place a tenth of a second behind.  Kim Zimmerman placed third, followed by
Chris Johnson, Brian Dewsnap and zealous gate slayer George Merrill.  Joan
Barthold took the women's field, closely challenged by Kim Wolff, Lisa
Densmore, Tica Benson and Brooks Axelson.  Despite the conditions, most of
the usual faces appeared in the line-up on the podium. In the men's field
first place honors went to: Mark Sorel (1); Patrick McNamara (2); David Lamb
(3); Bob Hill (4); George Merrill (5); Scott Pyles (6); Heinz Paul Wieser
(7); Franz Schemmel (8); Larry Voelker (9); George Caner (10); Fez Morse
(11);and Rod Aller (12).  Women's Class winners included: Margaret Zuccotti
(1); Tica Benson (2); Joan Barthold (3); Nadine Price (4); Meg Nutter (5);
Dee Larsen (6); Anne Nordhoy (7); Betsy Kent (9); and Pam Fisher (10).


     Sundays weather developed as forecasters had promised-- one of those
warm, blue winter days that reminds all of us why we took up winter sports.
 Over two hundred racers arrived to test their prowess on one of the
circuits longest GSs.  Loon course setters, judging the conditions too icy
for a wide-open GS, wended a tight and turny route down the mountain.  The
surface did prove unyielding, and rhythm eluded much of the field on the
first run. But a close competition developed among five of the top
challengers, turning the second run into spectator wish fulfillment.  Racers
lined the sunny sides of the course to watch New England's finest skiers
pound past in pursuit of gold.  And just where do you find 4/100 of a
second?  Bob Hill, again the bridesmaid, must be analyzing in his dreams
which pressure of the edge, which minute miscalculation in line cost him
victory.  Triumphant on this day was David Lamb, who attributes his success
to his skis as much as to his skiing.  Bob Hill, Doug Tucker, David Dodge,
and Biria St. John all finished within a second of Lamb, making for one of
the closer competitions of the season.  Meg St. John again won top honors
among the women, followed by Tica Benson, Kirsten Bosworth, Joan Barthold
and Margaret Zuccotti.


     Many of the same competitors medalled among the class contenders.  Meg
St. John took first in women's Class 1; Tica Benson in Class 2; Joan
Barthold in Class 3; Margaret Vaughn in Class 4; Tamara Marcinuk in Class
5; Anna Marie Weiser in Class 6;  Anne Nordhoy in Class 7; Wendy Hill in
Class 8; Betsy Kent in Class 9 and Pam Fisher in Class 10.  First place
honors among the men went to Biria St. John (1); Sean Florian (2); David
Lamb (3); Bob Hill (4); Bill Brown (5); Peter Whitehead (6); Bob
Wigglesworth (7); Al Hobart (8); Larry Voelker (9); Duffy Dodge (10); Nate
Griffin (ll), and Rod Aller (12).


     The Masters races will be hosted next weekend by Killington.