Outlaws skiers race California teams

The Sisters Alpine Ski Team competed well in their largest and most competitive race of the year at Mt. Bachelor on Saturday. Racers from six Northern California high schools joined the seven Central Oregon teams in the first Ore-Cal Classic alpine ski race.

The Sisters girls team took third place, and the boys took fourth place. Bend and Summit took first and second place in both the boys and girls divisions.

"Each week we race with some of the best skiers in the state, with the Bend and Summit teams. The Outlaw skiers raced well against the California teams and really enjoyed the new competition on the slope," said Coach Greg Ausman.

Race conditions were excellent for the giant slalom race on the Cliffhanger run at Mt. Bachelor, with fresh snow and sunshine. Freshman Cammie Benson led the Sisters girls racers, turning in two impressive runs of 68 seconds to capture 10th place among 34 racers. Betsy Ausman raced solid with two runs of 73 seconds for 21st place. Danielle Rudinsky and Emily Ausman also added points for the team.

Dillon Witt led the Sisters boys team, posting an excellent first run of 63.44 seconds and took 17th place out of 73 racers for the day. Yashi Saldi and Wade Pratt had consistent runs of 69 and 77 seconds for the team.

The Oregon School Ski Association (OSSA) hosted high school teams form Shasta, Redding, Red Bluff, Weed and Butte Valley, California. "We look forward to continuing the interstate competition and hope to race at Mt. Shasta next year," added Coach Ausman.

The Sisters Alpine team takes to the slopes twice this week with the Cascade Combined Alpine-Nordic race at Hoodoo Thursday evening and the Bend Bachelor Butte Bash on

Saturday.