Okemo, VT, 1/3/99

WEATHER FAILS TO PREVENT MASTERS SEASON OPENER

In spite of the dire weather forecasts, over one hundred Masters made the trek to Okemo for the 1999 Sise Cup Opener. As the year's first storm was raising havoc throughout much of the mid and northeast United States the conditions on the race hill were surprisingly gentle. With light snow falling instead of the dreaded freezing rain the two run giant slalom was a pleasurable event.  After completion of the first run, five men were within one half second of each other. Leader David Lamb was unable to duplicate his first run slipping to fourth place allowing Jon Pierce who put together two great runs to emerge as 1999’s first Sise Cup Winner.  Doug Tucker, with the fastest second run moved into second followed by Brian Dewsnap in third. Bob Hill was solidly in fifth place. For the women, Lisa Densmore outdistanced Margaret Zuccotti for overall honors, in spite of Margaret’s blistering winning second run. Rounding out the top five women were Margaret Vaughn, Patti Lane and Meg Nutter.

The Sise Cup now moves to the Granite State for the first leg of the Gibson Trophy at Mount Cranmore followed Sunday by a slalom at Gunstock.