The first race of the ski season was a welcome break for the University of Utah ski team. Training was put off for two days so racers could compete in the Eric Hays Memorial.
And, for the most part they did well. Heidi Standteiner won slaloms both Saturday and Sunday, and while the Utah men did not post a clear victory, they were close enough to produce optimism.After all, as Utah coach Pat Miller pointed out, "This early in the season we're racing against ourselves."
On Sunday, Standteiner won the women's slalom, and was followed by teammate Megan Karnopp.
On Sunday, Frode Johansen, who will ski for Brigham Young University this year, but skied this race as an independent, won and was followed by three Utes - Louis-Francois Gagnon, Mark Elvidge and Per Johansson.
Saturday, Standteiner won the women's race and Jeremy Nobis, a member of the U.S. Ski Team, and likely member of the Olympic Team, won the men's.
Saturday's race was run under warm, sunny conditions. Sunday's race was run under cloudy, cold conditions.
Johansen posted the fastest times on both runs. His two-run total was 1:08.89.
Gagnon was second best on both runs. His total was 1:09.09.
Standteiner's times were 1:17.10. Karnopp's two-run time was 1:18.15.
Miller said this was a good race, but he isn't making predictions. "We haven't had any GS (giant slalom) training yet, so it's hard tell just how we'll be.
There were 31 women and 85 men in this event. The next race for the Utes will be the Utah Invitational on Jan. 6-7.