By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
Alyeska Resort hosted the Western Region FIS Speed Series from Jan. 22 to Jan. 28. Ski racers participated from around the Western U.S. The event was a qualification race for U.S. Nationals, which will also be held at Alyeska.
Weather wasn’t cooperative with the event with mixed rain and snow falling on the ski run throughout the weekend.
“We had two really good days of training which is mandatory, and then a great day to race on Wednesday,” said Sparky Anderson, Director of the Alyeska Ski Club. “Then the weather moved in big time on Thursday, and we had to drop our start down. We didn’t run the full length from the top of Chair 6. We ran from the lower start from Silvertip down.”
The bad weather forced race officials to take out a flat section of the downhill race. Despite the change, it was still a legal race.
“Alyeska Resort staff and race crew staff did a great job getting the races off despite the weather,” said Andersen.
Two Girdwood competitors made their marks at the races. John Love finished third on the first downhill and won the race on the second day. Rory Casey also placed in the top three in the downhill on the second day with a third place finish. Casey placed eleventh on the first downhill. On the ladies side, Girdwood skier Alannah Rice finished thirteenth in the first downhill and sixteenth in the second run.
The U.S. Alpine Championships are up next for Alyeska, beginning March 26 and running through April 4.
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Western Region FIS Speed Series Top 20 Results At Alyeska Resort Jan. 22 to Jan. 28
