Skiers turn in classic performance

Amity Calvin notched her first Oregon High School Nordic league win with a one-second victory in a 5,500-meter classic race at Hoodoo Ski Resort on Saturday, January 28.

Calvin, double-poling throughout the race, edged Keelin Moehl of Summit to win with a time of 20:20. Courtney Blust came through next for the Outlaws to finish seventh in 22:51, while Elena Saldi finished 42nd in 27:29 among 84 skiers.

With many of Summit's top skiers out of state at a junior Olympic level meet in Utah, the rest of the OHSNO teams got a chance to place near the top.

"It was good to have a little more of an even playing field for a race, since Summit tends to dominate all the other teams in the league," said Coach Tom Blust. "I am glad our kids took advantage of the situation."

Two Sisters boys broke into the top six as Mason Calmettes placed third (18:54) and Devon Calvin sixth (19:43) behind the winner, Bend Schwarz of Bend, who toured the course in 18:22.

When it came down to the relay, the Outlaws had to resort to some drastic measures since Calmettes and Calvin were the only two skiers present for the team, and the relay is designed as a 3x1,000-meter event. It was decided that Calmettes would ski both the first and third legs of the relay for the Outlaws to allow the team to earn points.

Behind the lofty performances of Calmettes and Calvin, the Sisters boys garnered a second-place team finish in the relay and overall behind Bend.

"The kids are working hard and having fun," said Blust. "They continue to meet and exceed my expectations."

The team is off for the week unless they are able to jump into an Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association meet, February 4 at Mt. Bachelor.