FIS Masters Criterium

By Published On: April 11th, 2005Comments Off on FIS Masters Criterium

FIS Masters Criterium{mosimage}From April 8-9, 2005, Masters racers from 18 different countries gathered in Sun Valley, Idaho for the 2005 FIS Masters World Criterium (World Championships). Sun Valley lived up to its reputation for great weather and world-class skiing.

The competition was the toughest in recent memory at a Masters event in North America, particularly for racers in Group A (ages 54 and under). This group opened the event with a steep, relentless giant slalom down the Hemingway trail. The frozen conditions in the morning merely added to the rattle. Jeff Sarchett (Class 3) was the only American to garner gold, and Toby Chapman (Class 1) was the only other American to get on the podium after earning a bronze.

Group A’s Super G on Greyhawk was equally challenging, and a complete shut-out for the Americans, although Sun Valley local Matt Murphy and Park City racer Shawn Ackerman went 2-3 in class 4. Things improved for the younger Americans in slalom, with Bob Skinner (Class 4), Bill McGrath (Class 3) and Toby Chapman (Class 1) each winning their class.

Group B (men 55 and over) and Group C (women) ran their Super G and giant slalom on Warm Springs. The Super G was short with little character – more of a fast giant slalom, with nowhere to tuck, which gave a distinct disadvantage to those on longer skis expecting the real thing. But the giant slalom was perfection, both in its set and the conditions.

In Group B, Duffy Dodge (Class 10) and Knut Olberg (Class 7) posted back-to-back wins in Super G and giant slalom, but both struggled on the frozen snow on Cozy, the slalom trail. Dodge finished despite a 5-gate hike on his second run. Olberg fell off the pace when he could not get his edges to grip.

Swiss speedster Josef Odermatt (Class 8) not the World Cup and pro racing legend met a similar fate in Class 8. Haldor Reinholt ended Odermatt’s bid for three golds by winning the Class 8 slalom.

Pepi Neubauer and Victor Roy (Class 6) were on track for a repeat performance from the U.S. Alpine Master Nationals, with Neubauer winning the Super G and the giant slalom. But Neubauer made an early departure for the World Powder 8 Championships. Roy stepped up to the gold in slalom, posting the fastest time on the course.

In Group C, Cathie Douglas, Mary Inkster, Grace Oaks (CAN), Rosi Moschel, and Sally White swept classes 11, 10, 9, 6, and 5 respectively. But things were more dramatic in the other classes.

In Class 7, Glenn McConkey and Nancy Auseklis traded golds as usual: Auseklis won the giant slalom, but bowed out of the slalom, giving McConkey the win in that event, plus the Super G.

Former U.S. Ski Team Member and Sun Valley local Abbi Fisher-Gould (Class 4) was the fastest American in the Super G, winning her class. She also won the Class 4 slalom.

Lisa Densmore was the top American in the giant slalom and slalom, but in a highly competitive Class 3, she only managed a bronze in the slalom.
-Lisa Densmore

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About the Author: Pete Rugh