Outlaws cross-country skier tops field

Ine Fahle shows her speed.

Ine Fahle of Sisters placed first among Northern League cross country finishers at the OISRCA Pepsi Challenge held at Virginia Meisner Sno-Park Saturday, January 19.

Fahle, a senior foreign exchange student from Norway, placed second in the first competition of the season, and was determined to do better the second time around.

Her determination and experience paid off as she cruised to victory in 15:29, more than a minute ahead of the second place finisher, Lily Scott, of Redmond.

Fahle, who says she has skied as long as she can remember, entered her first competition in Norway at age seven.

"I was too young, so I had to race against the eight year olds," she said.

For Sisters, Casey Glick had one of his strongest performances ever, according to coach Lee Fischer.

Glick is in his second season as a cross-country skier.

Because of increased participation in cross country ski racing, the league was split into the Northern and Southern divisions this year, according to Fischer, who is OISRCA president.

"The total number of racers in Oregon this year is up and includes competitors from all over Oregon, all the way from Beaverton to Ashland," he said.

Fahle had the best time among all female finishers on the day and was faster than many of the boys in the classic style race.

"I prefer skating, but the first three races are in the classic style, which is okay," she said.

"The conditions were perfect," she said. "And everyone is really nice--the people are great."

Fahle, who also competes for the Outlaws swimming team, admits her conditioning isn't what it normally is.

"When I go up to the mountains with my host family (John Krumvieda and Suzanne Lind) it is to go snowboarding," she said. "That's okay, because I can cross country ski all I want when I go back to Norway."

Fahle, Glick and the third member of the team, Kristen Armstrong, return to competition Saturday, January 26 near Mt. Hood at the Tea Cup Nordic Ski area.

The Southern Oregon League teams will travel to Diamond Lake.