Summit, Battle Mountain win team skiing championships
KEYSTONE — Friday, the second day of the state skiing championships, was all about tight turns, low-light lenses, and big flakes.
Well, for most of the day. The girls started the sun-less, low temperature morning.
Sophie Defries, a junior at Boulder who races for Nederland, took first place for the slalom. A top-five finisher in Thursday’s giant slalom race, Defries was excited and surprised to take the top spot. She said she loved the course on Thursday, but Friday, it seemed, the course loved her.
Though there were spills towards the bottom, and a late gate that seemed to trip up a portion of the field, Defries stayed on her feet.
“This was a pretty tough course, so it threw some girls off,” she said. “It was quick, and I just had to stay focused. I was a little more prepared today, and slalom is always a stronger race for me.”
Defries’ Cassidy Donahue had the fastest time heading into the second race, but slipped out at the end, bumping Defries into her spot.
“I am bummed that my friend crashed,” she said. “I guess for me, I looked ahead and there was a little bit of luck.”
Eleanor “Ellie” Brown-Wolf finished her senior season with a second place run, her first podium finish, and a happy end to her high school career. Brown-Wolf will take a gap year before college and continue to compete in ski racing. Abby Davidson was third.
Snow had already begun falling at the close of the girls first run, and by the time the boys took the hill for their final run, the winds had picked up and visibility was limited.
It didn’t keep Sands Simonton from doing what he does best: skiing fast.
In his senior year, Simonton knows the podium well. As does his Battle Mountain teammate, Quintin Cook, who finished first in slalom.
The two finished first and second in both alpine events. And collectively, Battle Mountain won its first team alpine championship in 14 years.
“Besides those short 30 seconds to a minute, this is all about the team. I am overjoyed to be part of this,” Simonton said.
Simonton has committed to Colorado, where he will race as a Buff.
Head alpine coach Simon Mar says the dynamic between Cook and Simonton is “really cool to watch and coach.”
The boys of Battle Mountain swept all four events across the board, winning state championships and marking their most successful season in competition history.
In girls Nordic Classic, Summit teammates Ezra Smith and Ruthie Boyd finished back to back.
The two, elated to skate and push so close to each other, both landed on the podium in Thursday’s Nordic Skate, as well. Smith, a freshman, finishes her first high school season with two first-places finishes.
Her elder classmate and friend Boyd, crossed the finish line a minute and 30 second after Smith.
“I’m really excited to share the podium with Ruthie,” said the newtimer, Smith. “It’s been really fun to have each other for training and to go 1 and 2.”
Lyle Shipp of Vail Mountain followed shortly behind for third place. In the boys Nordic Classic, Henry Trowbridge, winner of the Nordic skate event on Thursday, was unable to race Friday due to illness. Nick Sweeney, Luk Platil, and Graham Houtsma took first, second, and third respectively.
The host team, Summit High school, won overall state champions for the girls.
