Masters: Tech events underway at Nationals

By Published On: March 28th, 2009Comments Off on Masters: Tech events underway at Nationals

The clouds hung low and as thick as racers arrived at Barker Lodge – Sunday River, Maine. After an hour of fog delay, racers were searching for their sunscreen by the middle of the day.  The sun came out and burned off the thick layer of fog revealing a gate bonanza as the technical events got underway at the Skiers Edge Masters National Championships.
The clouds hung low and as thick as racers arrived at Barker Lodge – Sunday River, Maine. After an hour of fog delay, racers were searching for their sunscreen by the middle of the day.  The sun came out and burned off the thick layer of fog revealing a gate bonanza as the technical events got underway at the Skiers Edge Masters National Championships.
 
The women’s slalom started off the action as Carolyn Beckedorff from the Eastern division laid down the fastest run of the morning…and the afternoon taking first by almost six seconds over Canada’s Andrea Esson. Speed skier Jennifer Kaufman finished the day in third overall nipping at Esson’s heels.
 
New York’s Pepi Neubauer showed nimble feet as he took the overall of the Group D (over 60) men’s slalom by nearly 4 seconds. Thomas Kronthaler from Intermountain laid down two solid runs holding off Eastern’s Bill McCollom, but it was Neubauer’s show as he held off all contenders.
 
Moving to the giant slalom venue, Chief of Race Bear Bryant said of Brandon Dyksterhouse’s giant slalom run, “ the move he made over the bump is something I’ve only seen in NorAm action, it was amazing!” Dyksterhouse put on a show taking the first run in Group A (age 21-44) by 2.55 seconds and was the only racer to go under the one minute mark in the second run. Ben Greene did his best to reel in Dyksterhouse, managing to get within 1.87 in the second run for second overall. Eastern’s Brian Irwin and Mike Shklovski tied for third overall.
 
Local “Mainer” Tip Kimble stepped up to the plate for the East and claimed the men’s Group B (age 45-59) overall GS win. The top three racers were only fifty-nine hundredths apart in the end. National Speed Series Champ Erik Klemme from Rocky Mountain took second, holding off Pacific Northwest’s Tim Hill.
 
Nationals action concludes on today as women and older men tackle giant slalom and the men head to slalom.
 
Complete results can be found at: https://www.ussamasters.org/2009/nationals

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About the Author: Pete Rugh