U. ski teams face poor conditions

PARK CITY — Conditions were not the best for the opening day of the Utah Ski Invitational. Racers faced blowing snow, poor visibility and soft snow.

As a result, the Utes struggled in the alpine events.

Over the mountain, however, at Soldier Hollow, Utah's women's nordic teams skied through poor conditions and finished in first as a team. Four of Utah's women finished in the top 10.

Kjersti Boe was 2nd, Sara Schweiger was 3rd, Zoe Roy was 5th and Ammelies Cook was 10th.

Maria Grevsgaard of Colorado was not challenged in the women's 15K classic, winning by more than three minutes over Boe. Times were 51 minutes, 49.8 seconds for Grevsgaard and 55:09.14 for Boe.

Behind the women's nordic finishes, and consistent skiing in the other three events — men's nordic and men's and women's alpine — Utah goes into the final events today in the lead for the overall team title.

The men's slalom and women's GS will be held at Park City Mountain Resorts, and the men's and women's freestyle cross country will be at Soldier Hollow.

Eli Brown, third-year coach for the University of Utah, said he was pleased with the results in the first full event of the season, "especially the women's nordic team. Getting four in the top 10, this early in the season, is incredible. The men's nordic team is also very strong, and you'll see them do better as the season progresses."

The men's team finished 4th.

In the alpine events, consensus was that about the only way to ski was to pick a line and don't be late in the turns.

John Buchar of the University of Denver did just that and won the men's giant slalom, posting the fastest run out of 90 racers on two separate courses.

Buchar's first-run time was 57.89 seconds down the Eagle Arena course. The next best time was posted by teammate Francesco Ghedina, 58.04 seconds.

Buchar's second-run time was 1 minute, 7.10 seconds. Scott Hume of the University of Nevada had the next best time of 1:07.14. Combined times were 2:04.99 for Buchar and 2:05.88 for Hume. Ghedina finished third.

The University of Utah's top finisher was Kyle Kung, a junior from Alaska. He finished seventh with a two-run time of 2:07.17.

Buchar said it was hard for him to comment on the race, "because it didn't feel good. But it didn't feel good for anyone today."

Kung also found race conditions tough.

He also noted that the Utes were anxious to get the season started, and "I think we put in a decent effort today, and that's all we could hope for."

One mishap on the hill, however, cost the Utes. Adam Cole, a sophomore, fell on the first run and broke his leg.