Familiar names top Western Chevy Trucks J3 Junior Olympics

Familiar names top Western Chevy Trucks J3 Junior Olympics{mosimage}Mammoth’s Kaylee Cortopassi and Stevens Pass’ Colby Granstrom added Junior Olympic overall titles to their list of accomplishments at J3s in Snowbird, Utah on March 18-20.

Over two feet of snow fell during the series (the men’s giant slalom was lost to the weather). But snow did little to slow Cortopassi in the opening super G, as she edged Auburn/Alpine Meadows’ Erica Jacobson. Mount Bachelor’s Anton Hilts took the men’s victory over Squaw’s Nick Daniels and Taylor Vest-Burton of Rowmark.

Snowbird women swept the women’s giant slalom the following day, with Angel Collinson ahead of teammate Felicia Byers. Cortopassi helped her cause towards the overall with a third.

After a sixth in the super G, Granstrom dominated the slalom, winning both runs. Nicolas Tomczyk of Park City was second and Squaw’s Sean Higgins was third.

With snow piling up throughout the next day, the decision was made to focus on getting the women’s slalom off. Byers, a first-year J3, went out her second run after leading the first, helping Dana Nott to the victory. First-year J3 Cate Kistler was second and Jacobson was third.

A seventh in the slalom helped Cortopassi join Granstrom, her Trofeo Topolino teammate, atop the overall standings, and both punched tickets to the Whistler Cup in April.

J3 men’s overall standings
1. Colby Granstrom 19.96
2. Anton Hilts 29.84
3. Sean Higgins 30.19

J3 women’s overall standings
1. Kaylee Ann Cortopassi 33.89
2. Erica Jacobson 38.39
3. Angel Collinson 71.55

The Western J4 Festival was held in conjuncture with the JOs, and after the same scenario of races as their elders, Heavenly’s Luc henri Chevalier was the top overall boy, and Alpental/Snoqualmie’s Vanessa Berther topped the girls.

Complete race results from Snowbird (including J4s) are available at IMD’s site.