Durango High School’s Alpine ski team raced its way to bronze during the second competition of the season.
Both the boys and girls teams earned third-place team spots in slalom Thursday at Beaver Creek Ski Resort.
Tough race conditions didn’t stop the Demons from putting up four top-10 finishes and six state-qualifying times.
“The course was a beast,” coach Jill Carithers said. “It did not have a lot of rhythm, it was long for a high school slalom. The surface was icy and fast with just a bit of fresh snow the night before, the slalom combinations were challenging and the pitch had multiple fall lines. But everyone laid it out.”
Gracey Henning (sixth) and Lauren McClellan (seventh) earned top-10 spots for the girls team. Henning recorded runs of 52.12 and 52.20 for a total time of 1:43.32, and McClellan earned times of 52.24 and 52.46 for a total score of 1:44.70.
Two boys also finished in the top 10: Ian Fehr (seventh) and Dane Englund (ninth). Fehr made runs of 41.36 and 53.89 for a final result of 1:35.25, and Englund’s times of 46.07 and 53.90 earned him a total run of 1:39.97.
Corbin Horrocks (1:49.83, 18th) and Annalbel Carithers (1:54.04, 23rd) also earned state-qualifying times at Beaver Creek.
The state slalom race is scheduled for Feb. 17, at Copper Mountain Ski Resort.
Ann Austin (2:16.60, 46th), Brianna Tonberlin (2:21.50, 49th) and Althea Bromiley (2:28.74, 55th) finished both runs for the girls team. Madison LeSage, Alaysia Cullum, Isabel Mora, Scarlett Ramsey and Ava McClelland also competed for the team.
Liam March (2:20.53, 36th) made both runs for the boys team. Cole Kusar, Jackson Nash, Skyler Taylor, Finn Scarpella, Holden Bronson, Renic Vincent, Barron Bronson and Zach Oliver also competed Thursday.
“The Beaver Creek race crew provided a really challenging pitch and the course was tough you will note this in the DNF's and DSQ on the results,” Carithers said. “The Durango High School team was on fire and putting it all on the line. I am so proud of this team they just keep pushing and sometimes that push gets them just over the edge and they ski out, miss a gate or wreck, but they are going for it.”
