Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Summit, Aspen look to defend ski titles

Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 9, 2006 at midnight

Text size  

More RockyPreps

More stories »

The Summit boys and Aspen girls will be out to defend their state skiing championships when competition begins Friday at Winter Park. The chances for a repeat by the Aspen girls appears slim, but the school's boys team should mount a serious challenge against favored Summit.

"Unfortunately, we won't have our defending champion, Jenny Hern, in the slaloms back as she had other commitments," Aspen coach Bill Madson said. "So, the girls won't be able to score enough points to contend.

"However, with our boys slalom champion, Paul Britvar (also fourth in the giant slalom last season) back, we should be in the battle with Summit. But Battle Mountain, Eagle Valley and Vail Mountain have strong squads, too."

Britvar will be complemented by teammates Wiley Maple and Brandon Bricose, who finished fifth in the slalom last season. The Skiers also should make a run at the Nordic title as well with Noah Hoffman (fourth in the freestyle) leading the way.

Summit's repeat bid will be led by Patrick Neel and Kevin Soller, who placed fourth and fifth, respectively in classic cross country last season. Neel was also fifth in freestyle.

Brittany Perkins of Summit won both classic and freestyle cross country last season, and her sister Briana will be a tough combination to beat. Aspen's Laura Hatanaka, who finished third in classic and fourth in freestyle cross country, looms as the strongest challenge to Perkins.

With Hern out of the picture, Robyn Dye of Steamboat Springs, who was second in the slalom last season, and Evergreen's Suzane Larson, second in the giant slalom, will be the favorites.

The giant slalom will be stagedFriday on the Meadows/Lower Hughes run at the resort, with the slalom following Saturday at the same site. Both races begin at 10 a.m., with the girls' competition going first.

The classic cross country is set for 4 p.m. Friday and will begin at the Nordic Center. The freestyle will begin at the same time Saturday, with the competitors getting underway from the Legett Building.

stockers@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5275.