10th annual Dan Nagy Memorial hosts high-level slalom racing in Wisconsin

By Published On: February 3rd, 2016Comments Off on 10th annual Dan Nagy Memorial hosts high-level slalom racing in Wisconsin

The 2016 Dan Nagy Memorial at Mt. LaCrosse, Wisc., hosted Rocky/Central Region U19 Nationals Slalom Qualifiers Jan. 29-31 with three FIS slalom races for both men and women. Friday’s cold temperatures provided a great surface on the ultra-steep Damnation and Thunderation runs. On the women’s side, Maddie Dekko from Buck Hill edged out Team Summit’s Sarah Schleper and Griffin Mueller from Ski & Snowboard Club Vail.  For the men, Keilan O’Brien was on top of the podium followed by Canadian Joseph Young and Ogden Valley Ski Club’s Michael Townsend. 

Saturday’s warmer temperatures made the steeps even more challenging.  The women’s race was won by Schleper, followed by Kaitlyn Vesterstein from Buck Hill and Australian Jessica Haslau in third.  Joseph Young took top honors for the men by the narrowest of margins, beating Keilan O’Brien by 0.01 seconds followed by Squaw Valley Ski Team’s Max Hall in third place.

Sunday was brutal in the morning with a steady rain, thick fog and flat light.  Viva La Schleper once again took top honors with juniors Dekko and Vesterstein following in second and third, respectively.  Hall blocked a Canadian podium sweep on the men’s side by coming in third behind runner-up Justin Alkier and race winner Young, both of Treble Cone Race Academy. The overall winners of the Dan Nagy Memorial Trophies were Schleper and Young.

Dan Nagy Memorial coach gate toss contest

Bill Patza cheating, yet again.

Dekko along with Mt. LaCrosse’s own Alex Harris each took home $1,000 as the winners of the NagyAlpine Growth Scholarship for sportsmanship.  Last but not least, the annual coach’s gate toss was won by Chris Acosta, with Josh Blum in second and Mark Navin in third. Bill Patza was disqualified for cheating for the 10th year in a row!

Now in its 10th year, the Dan Nagy Memorial has become a fixture on the FIS circuit displaying a high level of racing in the Midwest with many athletes traveling across the country to race slalom in the Central Division.

Complete results are available here.

Release and photos courtesy of Nagy Alpine Growth Scholarship (NAGS)

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About the Author: SR Staff Report