The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Hannah Watt-Sax takes first place
A handful of local alpine ski racers closed their 2007-2008 ski racing season at the last amateur slalom event of the year, the 48th Annual Loveland Derby at Loveland Ski Area April 12-13.
The Loveland Derby is the oldest and largest alpine race in North America and attracts between 400 to 500 competitors from as far away as Alaska and Florida to compete in the final points race of the season in Colorado. Varsity ski team members for the University of Colorado and the University of Denver were on hand to set the pace.
Two local athletes ended their season on a high note. Crested Butte Academy athlete and J3 (ages 13-14) racer Mick Osmundson put together a tremendous weekend of racing.
Osmundson’s results over the two-day event put him in a great position for the 2008-2009 racing season when he moves up to the J2 class (ages 15-16). With his results, Osmundson qualifies to compete in the Surefoot FIS Elite Series next year.
“Mick scored the best point result of his career,” says Academy alpine race director Drew Cesati. “It gets his foot in the door to compete at the highest level in Colorado as a first year J2.”
Crested Butte Ski Club/Academy athlete and J4 racer (ages 11-12) Hannah Watt-Sax had an incredible showing as well winning the slalom race on the second day of the event.
Other solid results came from J4 racer Josie Byron who posted an 11th place finish and J3 racer and Academy athlete Nicky Romano who took seventh place.
As many as 10 Academy racers will continue their training in June as they head to Mt. Hood for an on-snow camp, with a couple days of surfing, June 22 to July 5.
