North Conway, N.H.-- Mt. Cranmore hosted the first race of the 1998 Sise/Wes Masters racing season on January 3. The series began its 27th season with the help of many committed racers, volunteers and the support of sponsors Swix Wax, Artech Racing Gear, Warsteiner Beer and a new sponsor, Elan Skis.
The opening weekend saw renewal of competition and friendships, a few more pounds, a few more gray hairs--and for some, just less hair, and some un-January like weather. The demographics of the competitors were in evidence also, as five infants joined the circuit since last season. The Class I's for 2018 include Erica Florian, Parker Densmore, Anya Pineau, Jack Dewsnap, and Reilly Harring.
Saturday's unseasonably warm weather provided plenty of challenges in the Giant Slalom race. Cranmore's race crew as always, did a great job maintaining the course under some difficult early season conditions. (Many racers also appreciated the frequent updates passed along via the PA on the Patriots-Steelers playoff game)
On the slopes, a few racers were hard to recognize in their new Christmas duds but once on the course racing styles revealed identities. Cranmore's-own Tyler Palmer won the Men's division followed by Bob Hill and Christopher Johnson. For the Women, Kirsten Bosworth powered through the course ahead of Lisa Feinberg-Densmore and Carolyn Beckedorf.
Women's Class 10 winner was Pam Fisher, in Class 9 the renewed competition saw Jane Cooke beating Betsy Kent and Alice Pepper. Bertie Britton won class 8 and Anne Nordhoy took honors in class 7. In Class 6 Suzzane Boulter edged Dee Larsen and Class 5 action saw Meg Nutter in first followed by Tamamra Marcinuk and Linda Zamvil. In Class 4 Nadine Price was followed by Susan Dorn and Molly O'Brien and the competitive Class 3's had Lisa Feinberg Desnmore edging Brooks Axelson and another new racer, Nichole Bloomfield. Rounding out the Women's division was Carolyn Beckedorf winning Class 2 and overall winner Kirsten Bosworth beating Polly Tanner and Sarah Conant in the Class 1's.
The Men's Class 12 (80+ yrs old!) winner was Edward Acton, while in the hotly contested Class 11 Nate Grifkin beat Fez Morse and Tony Hyde. Class 10 winner Duffy Dodge finished ahead of John Elliot and George Caner, Larry Voelker beat Paul Rich and Thomas Head to capture the Class 9's. David Britton beat Robert McGrath and Lawrence Young in the "Crazy 8's" and Jim Page edged William Crabtree and William Vanatten in Class 7 action. Peter Smith, followed by Chuck Thorndike and Chris McAleer lead Class 6, overall winner and Mt. Washington Valley's own Tyler Palmer won the Class 5 followed by Bill Brown and George Merril.
Bob Hill prevailed in Class 4 edging Jesse Beck and Kevin Nolan, Ronn Gifford lead the 3's followed by Tip Kimball and Jim Harding. Christopher Johnson won a close race in the 2's followed by Kim Zimmerman and new-dad Brian Dewsnap and Will Withington returned to his old ways winning the 1's followed by Hans Schemmel and Alex Gadbois.
The competitors reflected on the day's races, shared reports on summer activities-- golf outings, hikes, mountain bike races, and renewed their ski-season friendships. A great day of racing was followed by the season's first--but not last-- awards ceremony and post-race party hosted by Mt. Cranmore and the series sponsors for 1998 including Swix wax and ski equipment, Artec Racing Gear, Warsteiner Beer and this year's new sponsor Elan skis. After the awards, discussions turned to the Slalom event scheduled for Sunday at Gunstock.
Sunday January 4, Slalom at Gunstock
Gilford, N.H.-- The first Slalom event of the 1998 Sise/Wes Cup season was held at Gunstock on January 4th. Unseasonably warm weather had settled over the region, but the host area was prepared and ran a great race.
The field of Slalom specialists was a little smaller but just as competitive as racers carved down the varied terrain of the Slalom course. Gunstock's race crew did a great job maintaining the course in Sunday's warm weather, as the course held up remarkably well.
The Women's race was won handily by Carolyn Beckedorf who beat Lisa Feinberg-Densmore and Margaret Mauran-Zucotti. While in the Men's race Chris Johnson had a blistering second run to beat first-run winner Brian Dewsnap and Hans Schemmel.
Pam Fisher again took honors in Class 10, in Class 9 Betsy Kent rebounded from Saturday's second-place finish to beat Jane Cooke and Alice Pepper. Wendy Hill beat Bertie Britton in the Class 8 contest and Anne Nordhoy placed 4th overall and took honors ahead of Virginia Petrie in Class 7. Suzzane Boulter edged Dee Larsen in the 6's, and Tamara Marcinuk prevailed over Linda Zamvil in Class 5. Class 4 winner (and GS specialist) Nadine Price edged Kevin Veller and Margaret Vaughn and, in what could be called a maternity match-up, Lisa Feinberg-Densmore lead the 3's with another new-mom Heidi Harring in second followed closely by Patti Lane. Carolyn Beckedorf ran away with the overall and Class 2 honors and Margaret Mauran-Zucotti beat Kati Lord and new-Masters racer Susan Withington in Class 1.
In Men's action. Tony Hyde took Class 11 followed by Richard Wood and William Apthorp, Duffy Dodge continued his winning ways in Class 10 followed by Rod Nordbloom and John Pepper. In Class 9, Paul Rich beat Saturday's winner Larry Voelker and Thomas Head, and David Britton edged Robert McGrath and Franz Schemmel in Class 8 action. James Page took honors in Class 7 followed by William Crabtree and Klaus Haas, and Class 6 Bill McCollum cracked the top-10 overall and finished ahead of Chuck Thorndike and Chris McAleer. George Merrill , clad in Artech gear, beat Bill Brennan and Richard Robison in the 5's and Bob Hill had another solid finish beating Jesse Beck and Fred Diffenbach in the 4's. Jim Harding got back on track with a win in the 3's followed by Saturday's Class 3 winner Ronn Gifford and new-dad Vaughn Harring. Chris Johnson needed a strong second run to take Class 2 honors edging new-dad and sleep-deprived Brian Dewsnap, followed by dad-again and returned-from-Michigan, Sean Florian. Hans Schemmel put together two solid runs to take Class 1, followed by Alex Gadbois and John Naples.
After the awards, the racers packed up and headed home, many pondering how they could squeeze "a few more tenths" out of a run and improve next week. The tour heads to Middlebury Ski Bowl in Vermont on Saturday for a Giant Slalom, and to Suicide Six for a Slalom on Sunday, January 11.