The Legends Cup - Downhill, Super G, and Super Combined at Sugarbush
by Barb Brumbaugh

Huge accolades go out to Sugarbush Resort, Legends race director Doug Lewis and the Sugarbush race crew. It is far from common for a resort in Vermont to close off a popular trail for a speed event for a whole week. Racers who attended the event commented on its first rate quality.

Dropping  over a 1,000 vertical feet in just under a mile, the course starts at the top of the Valley House chair and runs down Spring Fling to end at the Valley House Lodge.  The Legend's Cup is part of the New England Masters Sise Cup and the North Eastern Speed Cup ( www.twist-racing.com ).

Apparent was a sense of giddiness as racers crossed the finish line with huge ear-to-ear grins. Actual giggling could be heard from grown men and women, with the most frequent comment, “Man that was a blast!”  For some, facing gremlins, the event served to reacquaint themselves to pure speed, and shake off the rust,  as Derek Griggs remarked, “this is just training for me, really!”  

While the Western divisions of USSA run multiple speed events throughout their season, New England Masters  have lacked opportunities to get comfortable with speed. The unfamiliarity has been a decided disadvantage when heading to USSA Masters Nationals. Eastern racers have also never really been in contention for the National Speed Series title sponsored by Molecule F… until now.

Downhill
A mixed field of close to seventy masters racers, coaches and college racers attended the Legends Cup Downhill on February 5th at Sugarbush Resort. A mere 0.35 separated the top three racers. Cochran’s coach Colin Moffatt won the race, followed closely by UVM racer and past winner Cody Transue. Local coach Tyson McGinty rounded out the podium. Class seven Masters racer Mark George successfully held off all-comers until Class 2 Moffatt snatched the lead. George ultimately finished fourth overall and out of the cash, but took the Sise Cup points for the day. 

Burke Mountain Academy coach and ex-US Ski Team racer Bryna McCarty took sixth place overall,  giving her the women’s title and cash. Nadine Price, with a strong showing, took second followed by Barb Brumbaugh in third overall for the women.


Super G
The first SG event on Saturday counted for Molecule F National Speed Series points, as did the downhill. Improving on a fifth place in the downhill, Brian Irwin took the win by holding off second place finisher Ben Green. Visiting from the Rocky Mountain division, Erik Klemme claimed third.

For the women, Jessie McAleer demonstrated her prowess for speed by holding off a charging Katie George by 0.79. Nadine Price finished third overall, giving herself a first time lead in the National Speed Series. 

In the second SG, Ben Green stepped up the pace, improving his time by a few tenths of a second to take the victory over Klemme. Matthew Knortz held off Alex Gadbois for third.

Again, McAleer took the win, padding her lead for the Women’s Sise Cup overall. Katie George improved her time but it wasn’t enough to catch McAleer who also stepped it up a notch. Price, again took third.


Super Combined
Sunday marked the final race of Speed Week. Taking an early lead in the SG portion of the combined, Mark George had to settle for third overall. With a spectacular slalom run, Ben Green moved from third to first, leaving Tyson McGinty sitting in second.

Both McAleer and Katie George, skiing with increased comfort in the speed events, decided a drag race was in order. George, only 0.08 off McAleer after the SG, just couldn’t hold the pace as McAleer scorched a slalom run and continued her domination of the weekend. Price took third with the benefit of a speedy SG run to hold off a Margaret Vaughn slalom attack.  

The oldest racer on the hill all weekend was class 12 racer George Caner. Caner, game for anything, helped move loose snow (6-8 inches of fresh powder) from the course alongside every racer his junior on the hill, and it appeared his smile was permanent from the joy of speed.

An after-race party held at the bar in the Valley House Lodge rewarded most of the racers in the field. Race videos held everyone’s attention while awaiting race awards. Just about everyone left the mountain with s.w.a.g., but the best reward was the intangible of knowing they pushed the limit and pushed the adrenalin button. While not everyone was lightning fast, many found a new speed limit and learned how to extend their comfort zone.

Henri Borel of Chez Henri hosted yet another after party-party offering fondue for all who joined him. Erik Klemme took note of a steel support post near the bar, and a sign at the ceiling. Henri told him "Jean Claude Killy climbed that pole."  Game on.... Klemme bared enough flesh to stick to the pole and made his way on up. Testosterone was in the air as several racers couldn’t let the challenge go especially after a nine year old little boy flew up the pole after Klemme… Steve Masur, Alex Gadbois, and of course Jessie McAleer couldn’t leave without trying, but it was Rick Cesati using a refined piked technique who made it up next, then Alex using the same method. Steve Masur may still be trying.

Many thanks to those who contributed, including Rich Hutchinson, Swix, coaching help from Doug Tucker and John Grush, and the Sugarbush race crew.