Christianson, Ghent claim Colorado Ski Cup GS gold

Icedotcom sweeps boy's podium; Ski Club Vail snags top two girls spots at Breckenridge

Click to Enlarge Browse and Buy Summit Daily Photos Abby Ghent rounds a gate at Colorado Junior Ski Cup Saturday in Breckenridge. Summit Daily/Eric Drummond Get Sports Feeds

BY JOSH SALERNO
Summit Daily News
January 5, 2008

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BRECKENRIDGE - Kieffer Christianson was looking to overcome a slow start to the season in Saturday's Colorado Junior Ski Cup giant slalom at Breckenridge.

He wasn't hoping to win or even to earn a podium spot - the 18-year-old from Anchorage, Alaska, just wanted a performance to build on for the rest of the season, he said.

He did what he wanted - and more.

Christianson won the men's GS with a combined time of 1 minute, 54.16 seconds. Cooper Cartmill (1:54.73) and Kitt Flower (1:55.35) rounded out the podium spots. All skiers are members of Icedotcom Ski Club based out of Summit County.

Quantum Sports Club hosted the FIS event on the American course at Breck's Peak 9.

"I haven't been skiing my best lately," said Christianson, who moved from Alaska to Summit County to train with Icedotcom. "It was definitely nice to win and hopefully that will turn things around for me."

Snow and high winds made for a tough day of racing for competitors. Christianson said his long hours on the frosty Alaskan ranges prepared him for Saturday.

"I'm used to skiing in this kind of weather," he said. "Skiing up there (Alaska) is a lot like this. A lot of people complain (back home), but it's useful in times like this."

Conrad Schmidt didn't seem to mind the weather either. The 18-year-old skier and his Quantum Sports Club teammates train at Breck, which Schmidt said was an advantage.

"This wasn't any different than what we've been skiing in for the past couple weeks," said Schmidt, who lives in Breckenridge. "It had to be 50 below zero last week. It was a little rough on the flats because of the lighting, but it was a big help being on our mountain."

Schmidt recorded his first top-10 finish of the year in eighth place. His teammate, Taylor Lynch, finished fourth.

"For the first time in two years or so, I thought I did good," Schmidt said. "I've been going through some equipment changes and have had a down period. It's been tough, this could be a good start."

Abby Ghent won the women's race with a combined time of 1:58.71. Mary Sackbauer (2:00.30) was second edging Shane McLean (2:00.72) in third. Ghent and Sackbauer both race with Ski Club Vail, while McLean runs with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

Ghent, a 15-year-old Vail resident, said the recent training the team's doing benefited her tremendously.

"We've been really working on turny courses and this was a turny course," Ghent said. "It was a little slow so I had to kill it on the flats - keep my base low and skis straight."

Ghent is competing as a J2 for the first time. She started her first few races in the middle of the pack because of a low J2 FIS rating, but has been increasing her start number ever since.

"You have to work your way up to get those good start times," said Ghent, who started seventh on Saturday. "I'm excited I've been doing that."



Josh Salerno can be contacted at (970) 668-4633, or jsalerno@summitdaily.com.