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Sunday, January 28, 2001 -- Davis, WV
Washington Ski International
Story and photos by Mike Monroe

[Details] [Coverage] [O/A Results] [M/F Results] [Class Results]
[Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3] [Saturday's Pics & Results]

Saturday Racing
Mother Nature helps make it interesting
Two of the fourteen races in the Washington Ski International Mid-Atlantic Ski Championship series were held at Timberline Resort (TimberlineResort.com) and Canaan Valley Resort (CanaanResort.com) this weekend. Saturday the event was at Timberline with the temperature being a blustery high of 25 degrees. The slopes were icy due to the high winds and the extreme cold. It was practically white-out conditions all day.

Even though it was cold, still 20-some-odd brave souls showed up for the event. "The course was a fast one and the second run was even faster after the powder was blown off the course." said Bob Cates. Nothing but good things were said about the race even though the windy conditions made putting on a race a bit difficult. Bill Radtke simply said, "The race was run great".

Laurent Hudry, a pro racer from France, was at Timberline on this day and enjoyed the event. He was third in the World Slalom Dual Parallel Championship held in New Mexico last year. As you might expect, he was the unofficial winner recording the day's best time of 24.34 on his second run. He knocked almost two full seconds off the time from his first run down the course. You can check out his own web sites at www.procamps.fr.st or www.Laurent-Hudry.org! [Note: They're both the really the same site.]

Sunday Racing
The sun shines on Sunday's racing
Spencer Reed was no slacker as he recorded the official best Men's time of the day with a 25.04. Reed's local Canaan Valley/Timberline ski team took the top three spots.

Jo Ellen Suter-Burford (31.48) was the Women's overall winner for the day, on her Birthday. She is also a member of the Columbia Ski Team. This was her second first place women's overall in a row. She always shoots for the stars, and it looked like she was landing there. Her husband Steve Burford also did great and had a lot of great stuff to say about one of West Virginia's best ski resorts. He said that Columbia Ski Team tries to stay active all year by playing in the outdoors and even racing stock cars.

After the race Washington Ski International gave out a scooter to the number one overall in the children's division. Michael was the winner of the scooter and was really excited about the whole ordeal. The kids also got their picture taken with Hudry along with autographed posters. Whatever the weather, whatever the age or skill level, it was a good day to be on the slopes.

Sunday the event moved just down the road to Canaan Valley Resort. The weather was perfect, 40 F and freshly packed powder from Saturday night, around 6 to 8 inches of it. The wind was tired from the day before, she didn't show her face till later into the evening. With the 28th person signing up for the race it was time to head to the top and race down Lower Ramble. Sunday's course was quite a bit longer, but the top speeds were also a lot faster.

Fun on the slopes
Come on out and join the fun!
Bob Cates, of the Columbia Ski Team, was the men's overall winner with his best time being 32.61 and fellow team member Suter-Burford was once again the women's overall winner (40.41).

Team Columbia was out in full force and won the team division. Ted Miksimski III, captain of the team, won his division again and got fourth overall with his best run being 36.26. This is Ted's fourth year with team.

Director of Washington Ski International is Sam Mantis, in his 24th year of service. WSI is a non-profit organization that holds 14 races a year held at seven different resorts through West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Even though there weren't any snowboards present the slalom is open to snowboarders as well. Next week they are holding two races at Liberty in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. One on Saturday and one on Sunday, both beginning at 10 a.m. For more information you can call Sam and the WSI at (301) 946-0190.