Junior racers compete at ski championships

A group of young Sisters skiers have been working very hard the past four months in hopes of competing in the Alpine Ski Championships which are held each year over spring break.

The racers compete under the auspices of and are active participants in the Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation junior race program (MBSEF).

This year the event was held March 12-13 and was moved from Mt. Spokane to Mt. Bachelor due to lack of snow in Washington.

Qualifying this year at fourth seed out of a field of approximately 55 boys was Jordan Rudinsky, a sixth grader at Sisters Middle School.

Lauren Rudinsky, a fifth grader at Sisters Elementary, finished the season ninth seed out of 30 girls. Lauren was invited along with the eighth-and 10th-place girls to “forerun” the course both days, which means they are sent down the course first to double-check the timing equipment and make sure it is ready for the races.

The races were held under sunny blue skies on the main Thunderbird run above the West Village lodge. On Saturday Jordan Rudinsky placed 30th out of 136 racers in the boy’s giant slalom.

On Sunday the weather remained bright and beautiful but the snow had turned to a sheet of ice on the giant slalom run. Some referred to it as “bullet proof.” Those with sharper edges on their skis held an advantage over other racers.

In this event, Rudinsky placed 10th out of 136, which was good enough for a medal.

The MBSEF boys team placed fourth overall out of 25 teams with the boys/girls combined netting an overall fifth place finish.

To top off the weekend U.S. Ski Team member Marco Sullivan was the guest of honor and handed out the medals at the awardsceremony.

Other Sisters members in the MBSEF are Jenna Sneva, Haley Hancock, Alexandra Wimer and Danielle Rudinsky. Children from ages seven and up may participate in the season that runs from the first weekend in December through the end of spring break.

Most races are intramural races that are held at Mt. Bachelor with an optional race at Mt. Hood in February. For nine-to 12-year-old athletes the races all count as qualifying races for a position on the Buddy Werner team. Only the top seven boys and top seven girls from each club earn a place on the team.

The ‘Buddies,’ as they are known, are the Alpine Ski Championship races for nine- to 12-year-old racers from ski clubs across Oregon, Washington and much of Idaho and is named after America’s first international ski champion, Buddy Werner.

Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation has programs for ski racers, snow boarders and Nordic skiers and is starting a new program for road biking as well as mountain biking. For more information visit http://www.mbsef.org.