Skiers in first race of the season

The Outlaws fielded a girls and boys varsity team, as well as a JV boys squad in the Oregon School Ski Association's first race of the season on Saturday, January 5. The race was a giant slalom on the Cliffhanger run at Mt. Bachelor.

Snow conditions were dry and visibility was good. At the top of the course it was a bit windy and cold, but according to Coach Gabe Chladek those conditions helped the race course hold up well all day.

After a combined two-run time the boys varsity squad earned 14 points for a fourth-place finish. Colton Seymour finished at 2:17.00, George Chladek (2:21.73), Kincaid Smeltzer (2:23.15), Evan Palmer (2:23.42) and Mitchell Griffin (2:43.35).

Chladek said, "It was exciting that our varsity boys combined time was just a few tenths of a second off of Summit High School's third-place time."

The varsity girls team placed sixth with the following times: Holly Lewis (2:47.96), Skylar Wilkins (2:50.81), Sydney Wilkins (3:01.74), and Piper Adelt (3:26.82).

Chladek said, "For all except Skylar, this was the girls' first high school race. I'm really impressed with how they performed under pressure. This is a young girls team, and I'm excited to see how bravely they are stepping up to the competition."

The JV boys finished fourth and Chladek told The Nugget they did a great job of skiing aggressively as new racers. In order of finish for the Outlaws was Simon Rhett, Christopher Lundgren, Connor Petke, Oscar Rhett, Austin Ekern, August McKeown, and Ian Cash.

Assistant Coach Rima Givot said, "I was really impressed with how aggressive and focused all the racers were at the their first race."

The Outlaws will race at Mt. Bachelor on Saturday, January 12, in a slalom competition.