Saturday, February 3, 2001 -- Wisp Resort --- Deep Creek, MD
Allegheny Collegiate Ski Conference
Story and photos by Julie Black

[Details] [Coverage]
Results: [Overall Results] [Results by Class] [Team Scores]
Pictures: [Set 1] [Set 2] [Set 3] [Set 4] [Set 5]

Don't ever let those pesky poles slow you down

The US Collegiate Snowsport Association (USCSA), is the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing, and snowboarding in America. "In excess of 150 colleges from coast to coast, we field some 3,800 men and women, alpine, cross country and snowboarding athletes in over 200 race events annually." says USCSA President, Bill Hetrick.

The USCSA has over 20 states, and almost too many colleges & universities to mention one by one. All of the schools are involved in over 10 conferences which cover the country from east to west. All conferences are proudly sponsored by Reliable Racing Supply, INC.

Wisp Resort in Deep Creek, Maryland was the third stop for the Allegheny Collegiate Ski Conference which competes at resorts in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Cutting the turns close

There are ten schools who compete in this conference including Bucknell, Davis & Elkins College, Penn State, University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova, West Chester University, West Virginia University, and the US Naval Academy.

With only three more races to go before The Regionals which will be held on February 24th & 25th at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Snowshoe, WV, the anxiety hung heavy in the air, or was it something else that was hanging in the air from all of the celebrating from the night before? Whatever it was, it didn't matter, because once racers were at the top of Squirl Cage, there was no turning back.

The women tear it up first

After calculating the best possible times combined from two runs down the steep, slalom course of Squirl Cage, the men's overall race winners were as follows; Beau Gibson of University of Maryland with a combined time of 72.45, E.J. Scofield (73.07), also from the UNiversity of Maryland, and David Yurkerwich (74.04), of Villinova.

Shanna Pace of Penn State University from the Women's A class finished with the 6th overall fastest time and first for the ladies with a time of 76.00. Navy Team racer Reann Mommsen (84.69), clenched 2nd in the women's class, and Courtney Scott, another Penn State University Team skier, came in 3rd with a time of 87.43.

The Penn State Ski Team

The Team who dominated in the Men's, Women's, and Combined Classes was Team Penn State. The Navy Team came in second, and Bucknell finished third in all of those race categories.

The Allegheny Collegiate Ski Conference's next stop on the block is in Champion, PA at Seven Springs Resort on February 10th & 11th for Slalom and Giant Slalom races. Then on February 17th & 18th, they'll be at Tussey Mountain in Scranton, PA for the Conference Finals. Regionals will be held on the weekend of February 24th & 25th in Snowshoe, West Virginia at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Don't miss it!