The East at the Nationals; Park City, UT, March
2003
It was quite a thing for us at the banquet. Bill Skinner started reading the regions as they placed -- in reverse order. We listened and didn't hear the East as Bill read Central, Northern, Far West and Pacific Northwest. Then, he said, in third - Intermountain, which includes the people he and his brother, Bobby, coach at Park City and who train most every weekday. There were two places left to go. Bill said, Rocky Mountain - second, and the East erupted with excitement and happiness. Then Bill said, East - first. We all went up front and put our arms around each other-those of us who placed and those of us who didn't, all at one with each other. Pete Donaghy, our esteemed Captain, was in the middle and held the trophy. Chuck Thorndike persuaded Picabo Street to stand behind on the podium and be in the pictures with us. Our light heartedness spilled out all over. This was the first time that the East had won the Nationals in a long time.
I felt that the races were a serious affair, where earnest racers, many of whom train intensively, some every day, come to try to be the best. I know a number of the Masters racers from Park City, Mammoth, Sun Valley, Tahoe and other areas, and they are friends dedicated to ski racing. I had many mutually respectful conversations before and after the runs with them, and I trust that you did too.
To me, the courses were different from those that we ski in the East. The Super G on Payday seemed set more akin to a downhill than our Super Gs at Wildcat and Sugarbush. Sally White said that she tucked all the way. The D Group slalom on Picabo's, that I skied in, started with half a dozen turns on a steep pitch and had ruts from the temperature and the number of racers. The GS on Payday for Groups A, C and D involved tucking through a long flat midway, and the snow, except where down to the ice by the inside poles, was softer than our snow. The B Group men skied the GS on CB's, which was the trail on which the men's Olympic GS was held. The afternoon that I free-skied on CB's, I thought that it's steepness made it the best trail on the mountain.
We appreciate those who won the trophy for us. Lisa Densmore and Rod Aller won three firsts. Carolyn Beckedorff, Sue Boulter, Duffy Dodge and Haldor Reinholt attained two firsts and a second. Wendy Hill and Pepi Neubauer garnered a first and two seconds. Bryan Reimer took a first, a second and a third. Sally White was the winner of two firsts. Jessie McAleer and Nate Grifkin gained a first and a second. Anne Nordhoy had three thirds. Sean Florian captured two thirds and a fourth. Meg Nutter's places were a first, a fourth and a fifth. Marc Sorel had a third and two fourths. Stefi Hastings took a third, a fourth and a fifth. Stacey Weston gained a second and a fourth. Greg Bennett had a third and a fourth. Jane Cooke secured a first and two thirds. Dick Wood placed third twice. Jamie Morehouse took a second. Margaret Vaughn's places were a fourth and two fifths. Judson Bartlett, Greg Sarkis, Barb Settel, Larry Voelker, Tracy Boulter, John Keleher, Paul Rich and Rod Taylor added to our point accumulation with fourths and fifths.
Game competitors all, undaunted, unbowed come what may, never at a loss for a smile or a turn through the gates, were Matt Aeschlimann, George Anderson, Jerry Bailey, Hans Baurmiester, myself, George Caner, Jim Cooke, Anthony Digangi, Jim, Doig, Pete Donaghy, Lawrence Duffany, Alex Gadbois, Keefe Gorman, Kathy Hurdcarillo, Patti Lane, David Lippucci, Horst Locher, Steven Masur, Bob McGrath, David Strang, Peter Thompson, Chuck Thorndike, Bill Vanatten, Doug Wisse and David Wolff.
Here's to you!
|