Skiers race in two events

The Alpine Ski Teams competed in two races last week, the first a Giant Slalom on Wednesday, January 24, at Hoodoo Ski Area, and three days later a slalom race at Willamette Pass.

Conditions were very wet and stormy on Wednesday at Hoodoo, and the race officials cancelled the second run, which made it a one-run race. The girls team took first place for the day, but the boys struggled with the soft, rutted course conditions, and finished third.

Tallis Grummer was the fastest of the Lady Outlaws, finishing third with a single-run time of 54.78, followed by Ella Eby who finished sixth (55.53). Other scores for the girls were: Ava Riehle seventh (56.67), Pia Grummer 12th (1:00.04), Presley Adelt 13th (1:00.79), Payten Adelt 14th (1:01.07), Lauren Sitz 17th (1:03.31), Brooke Duey 20th (1:04.96), and Johanna Gehering 27th (1:27.03). Kiara Martin pushed herself for a good finish, but crashed out due to the rough course conditions.

On the boys side, Spencer Tisdel was the Outlaws’ fastest skier, placing sixth with a single run time of 56.08. He was followed by Cooper Merrill who finished seventh (57.38). Other scores were: John Berg ninth (58.13), Emerson Backus 10th (58.13), Spencer Davis 15th (1:00.28), Jack Turpin 18th (1:05.30), Joseph Derksen 20th (1:09.08), and Finn Stancliff 22nd (1:13.98).

Freshman Ben Hayner came out of the start and pushed hard for a good time in his first ever high school giant slalom race but unfortunately rattled out of a ski and crashed.

Coach Gabe Chladek said, “Conditions were really tough and I was proud of how the whole team maintained a positive attitude and competitive spirit.”

On Saturday at Willamette Pass both the girls and the boys teams took first place. Conditions were a bit better for the first run, but the second was very wet and soggy. Due to the late start to the season, and the adverse conditions, this was the first slalom race of the season, and many of the competitors had very little time to train in this event prior to the race. Chaldek told The Nugget that he was really impressed with how well the Outlaw team performed in this first slalom race of the year.

On the boys side, Tisdel made an impressive second place finish with a combined time of 1:38.74, and Hayner took fourth (1:47.19). Remaining times for the Outlaws were: Davis seventh (1:58.70), Turpin ninth (2:03.35), Berg 10th (2:03.59), Merrill 15th (2:09.29), and Derksen 19th (2:21.51). Stancliff crashed on his first run and got a 1:17.78 on the second run. Backus also crashed on his first run, but came back with an impressive 50.35 on his second run, which was the third fastest time on the second run.

The girls team maintained their winning streak with their first-place finish. Presley Adelt was the fastest Outlaw and came in fourth with a combined time of 1:40.44, and Eby finished fifth at 1:42.89. Remaining scores were: Pia Grummer seventh (1:49.05), Payten Adelt eighth (1:56.97), Duey 10th (1:59.47), Sitz 12th (2:03.62), and Martin 14th (2:13.87).

Tallis Grummer scored an impressive 49.40 on her first run and was on pace for a first place finish on her second when she was disqualified for missing the final gate. Riehle crashed on her first run and came back with a respectable 56.89 on her second run.

Chaldek said, “I think the team is doing very well. The girls are on a winning streak since the beginning of the season, and the boys are doing very well considering they are a young team with no seniors. The team seems to be very cohesive and they’re all having a great time together.”

The Outlaws’ next race will be a slalom at Hoodoo on Wednesday, January 31.