MSU RMISA Giant Slalom Qualifier
Staples 10th at RMISA GS Qualifer at Big Sky
Big Sky, Mont. — Call it a dry run for tomorrow. The University of New Mexico alpine squads got a chance to run the same giant slalom course that will count for points tomorrow as a part of the RMISA Giant Slalom Qualifier. Sydney Staples came in 10th place for UNM’s only top-10 result. No team scores were kept.
The RMISA runs two giant slalom qualifiers to give alpine skiers five giant slaloms for the season. The Jade Enterprises/UNM Invitational has no giant slalom, necessitating the qualifiers.
On the women’s side, Sydney Staples posted her second top-10 result of the season, coming in right on the line in 10th place. Consistent was the name of her game, having the 11th best run in the first go and then the 10th best run in the second. Courtney Altringer, who was 10th after her first run, finished 12th for UNM’s only other top-20 result.
Sara Ottosson was 21st and Katharine Irwin was 22nd after an excellent second run. Karoline Søvik Myklebust, who had a fifth and seventh place finish in Utah, recorded a DNF on her opening run.
On the men’s side, the team struggled without its top two skiers. Rob Greig, who has skied well for UNM, was the top finisher in 24th place. He was followed by Nick Veth, with a career-best 29th place finish. Alex Barounos was 31st and Tyler Theis was 38th. Patrick Brancher recorded a DNF in his first run.
The Lobos will be without top skier Carl-Johan Öster, who is out for at least the weekend with an injury, and Youri Mougel, who is feared lost for the season with a knee injury.
Both the men and women will take to the same giant slalom course tomorrow, this time for points as a part of the Montana State Invitational, while the Nordic squads will compete in the second half of the Utah Invitational at Soldier Hollow. Saturday will be the freestyle interval start, with the men’s 10K race at 10 a.m. and the women’s 5K race at 11 a.m.