Quincy skiers stay in the competition
Quincy student skiers have been taking advantage of the snow this season and enjoying the sunshine on the slopes as competitions have experienced extremely pleasant conditions on race days!
The balance of the races, through State finals March 1-3 at Northstar, are forecast to receive more of the same weather.
Giant Slalom Feb. 10
Quincy High skiers had a clean-run day Feb. 10 with two races back to back in Giant Slalom at Alpine Meadows.
Sabina Winter took third place in both races out of 23 racers, just a second behind her Chico High rivals in the first race.
Sam Lawson placed sixth in the first race, but then came on stronger in the second moving up to third place out of 29 racers.
“Emma Leff had her best race so far coming in 13th place in the morning race,” said team photographer and fan Suzi Brakken, “She dropped to 19th place in the afternoon race.”
James White earned 18th and 19th places; while David Leonhardt placed 23rd and 21st.
“Sophomore Haley Perkins joined the team for her first race ever and managed to ski three clean runs and land in 22nd place,” said Brakken.
“This year’s team is so much fun to be around! They are supportive and genuine and we make fun of each other in the sweetest possible way,” said Quincy High School head ski coach Max Egloff. “The group is skiing great … our veteran skiers are skiing fast and consistent as always and taking on leadership in training our rookies who are catching on quick!” added Egloff.
Slalom Feb. 7
“The tricky slalom race course at Boreal proved challenging for some of the Quincy High ski team during Race number 5 in the Central 1 League on Feb. 7,” said Brakken.
In the girls’ races, Sabina Winter had the second fastest time on her first run out of 21 racers. “She came much closer to the leader from Durham, skiing just 4 seconds behind, and was 3 seconds ahead of a racer from Del Oro High,” said Brakken. “On her second run however, she stumbled after hitting a gate and had to hike back up the hill. She finished the race in 10th place.”
Quincy High’s Emma Leff had two clean runs and came in 20th place her first year on the team. “QHS senior Sam Lawson was determined to have two clean runs in the boys race in order to qualify for state championships,” said Brakken. “He succeeded and came in fifth place overall out of 28 racers.”
James White had his best race so far of the season, landing in 10th place with two clean runs.
“David Leonhardt struggled at the very end of his first run,” said Brakken. “He clipped a gate and lost a ski, which spun him around and hit another gate, causing him to lose a second ski and fall at the finish line, which disqualified him.” He wasn’t alone; five other racers also fell on the same run.
The team’s final league races took place at Alpine Meadows on Feb. 10 and the final championship took place at Boreal on Feb. 14.
