Ski team wins first race of season

The Sisters Outlaws Alpine Ski Team made a strong showing at the first Emerald League High School Alpine Ski Race of the 2024 season. Both the boys and girls teams won first place in the team score.

Sisters competed in a Giant Slalom race that was held at Willamette Pass on Saturday, January 20. Conditions for the race held true to the El Niño theme of this winter, with gusty winds, a bit of rain, and heavy wet snow.

On the girls side, Ella Eby was the fastest Outlaw, finishing with a combined time of 1:48.90, Tallis Grummer took fourth (1:50.82), Ava Riehle sixth (1:53.61), Pia Grummer ninth (2:00.09), Presley Adelt 10th (2:00.41), Payten Adelt 12th (2:03.12), Kiara Martian 17th (2:07.81), and Johanna Gehring 27th (2;54.49).

Coach Gabe Chladek told The Nugget that Lauren Sitz was pushing herself hard, and using some new techniques on her first run. Unfortunately, she crashed out. On her second run she came back, and scored an impressive 1:08.01.

“Lauren is really standing out this season at trainings in the first race,” said Chladek. “She’s showing a lot of new technique and aggression on the course.”

On the boys’ side, Cooper Merrill finished with a combined time of 1:50.24 and was the Outlaws top racer. Other finishers were: John Berg at sixth (1:53.05), Emerson Backus seventh (1;53.28), Spencer Tisdel eighth (1:55.00), Spencer Davis 13th (2:05.60), Joseph Derksen 19th (2:13.04), Finn Stancliff 24th (2:22.51).

Jack Turpen scored a 1:00.72 on his first run but crashed out on the second.

Chladek made note of a couple of the boys.

“I was really impressed with freshman and first year racer Spencer Davis who brought in a varsity finish at his very first high school race,” said Chladek. “Also, Joseph Derksen made a big move up into varsity finish from skiing mostly JV last season.”

Of his top two racers, Ella Eby and Cooper Merrill, Chladek commented, “Ella and Cooper both kept their skis in the fall line and were able to carry good momentum through the slower snow conditions and flatter course at Willamette Pass.”

The Outlaws next race will be a Giant Slalom at Hoodoo Ski Area on Wednesday, January 24, followed by a slalom race three days later at Willamette Pass.