Slalom Races Postponed At Colorado Invitational

Sunday, January 8

Eldora, CO

Montana State University

Colorado-SL

Photo by: courtesy of Michael Mackie

1/8/2012 8:17:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing

Due to an unsatisfactory racing condition, the men’s and women’s slalom races for the University of Colorado/Spencer Nelson Invitational have been postponed and will not be run on Sunday, race officials decided.

By: Tom Schulz

Due to an unsatisfactory racing condition, the men's and women's slalom races for the University of Colorado/Spencer Nelson Invitational have been postponed and will not be run on Sunday, race officials decided.

“There were unfavorable snow conditions that were putting skiers in a little bit of danger,” CU head coach Richard Rokos said. “We wanted to put a fair race on, we are obligated to excellence and in terms of putting on a race, that rule absolutely applies.”

Just more than 40 of a scheduled 74 men's racers made it through their first run, with several having to hike or not finishing before officials cancelled the race. The initial plan was to still run the women's race at 11:30 a.m. and at approximately 11:15 a.m., that race was also called off for the same reason.

The tentative plan is to run the slalom races for the CU Invitational this coming Friday before the start of the Denver Invitational at Winter Park. A final decision should be made sometime in the next day or two. If that plan doesn't pan out, the races will be made up at some point during the season in either Alaska or Montana.

Regardless of the alpine schedule, the Colorado Invitational will continue on Friday with the season's first Nordic action at Steamboat Springs, Colo. Friday's freestyle races will be an interval start, 5-kilometers for the women and 10-kilometers for the men. Saturday is scheduled for a mass start classical race, 15-kilometers for the women and 20-kilometers for the men.

On Saturday, Montana State freshman Michael Radford posted MSU's first top ten finish of the season, placing ninth in the giant slalom with a two-run total of 1:57.68 and recording 31 points for the Bobcats.

Other MSU contributors included David Owsley, 23rd, 1:58.94; Mike Mackie, 26th, 2:00.86; and Ryan McConnell, 32nd, 2:07.23. Geoff Irwin and Chet Cook did not finish the second run.

Utah's Nick Cohee won the giant slalom crown with a clocking of 1:55.96.

The Montana State women were led in the giant slalom by Terra Moran, who finished 22nd overall in a time of 2:01.52. She was followed by Stephanie Irwin, 26th, 2:02.74; Emily Danza, 28th, 2:03.67; Marissa Riopelle, 30th, 2:05.98; Jacqueline Lebel, 31st, 2:06.85; and Karen Bell, 32nd, 2:07.21.

Colorado's Erika Ghent won the women's title in 1:55.38.

After the opening day, CU held a narrow three-point lead over Utah 239-236 atop the standings. They were followed by New Mexico 190, Denver 182, Alaska-Anchorage 175, Westminster 149, Montana State 131 and Colorado Mountain College 51.