The Purgatory Alpine Ski Team started with a strong defense of their Southern Series Championship.
Skiing on their home mountain, Purgatory skiers captured 37 total medals during Giant Slalom races held Saturday and Sunday on Upper Hades.
“I couldn’t be more proud of every single athlete that participated in our recent events,” Purgatory Alpine Ski Team head coach Stacy Falk said. “That goes beyond the podium to those that didn’t finish the race but still gave it their all and walked away with a positive attitude.”
Toby Scarpella led the boys with four gold medals. Other medalists were Nick Unkovskoy with three gold, Finn Scarpella won one gold and two silver, Calvin Chase won two silvers and one bronze, Kiser Koda won one gold and two bronze, Zach Oliver won two gold, Elliot Tranum got one silver, Harry LeSage, William Zahradnik and Jack Englund all received one bronze each for their performances.
Other Top 10 finishers included Holden Bronson, Dane Englund, Luke Fowler, Barron Bronson, Jackson McGlasson, James Kusar, and Jack Thompson.
“Getting to know our athletes over the past five months through multiple team building exercises, fundraisers, Chapman practices and Purgatory training, this has been a very rewarding experience for me,” Falk said. “Especially when an athlete comes up to you on race day and says ‘thank you’ with a big smile.”
Top performers for the girls included Ellie Gober who took home two gold and two silver medals, Isabelle Washburn won one gold, one silver and two bronze, Gracey Hening won three silvers, Maddie Jo Robbins won one gold and one bronze and Edie Erwin won two bronze.
Other Top 10 finishers included Abby Shepard, Aleah Austin, Zoe Kiesel, Analise Gates, Sophia Gallagher, Skylar Thorpe and Lauren McClellan.
“A big round of applause to our amazing coaching staff,” said Falk. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without their motivation and dedication to the program.”
The Southern Series championship is a three race competition held annually between ski teams based in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The Purgatory Ski Team has won the series title, dubbed “The Birdie”, four consecutive years.
The title is determined by overall point totals accumulated in the season’s three series races.
The next race in the series will be a slalom race February 6-7 at the Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Ariz. The finale will be a combined slalom/giant slalom competition at Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico on March 26-27.
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