Sports & Outdoors

ASPEN, Colo.—The AVSC 13-14 year-old J3 alpine teams took full advantage of their last chance to qualify for the Rocky/Central J3 Junior Championships at the Rocky Mountain Division slalom and giant slalom races in Vail on February 19-20. Tristan Lane and Sky Kelsey led the AVSC men with several podium finishes including a win for Kelsey, while Galena Wardle paced the AVSC women with two top-ten results.

Galena Wardle proved that she belongs among the best despite only being a first-year J3 racer, taking seventh and 11th in Sunday's giant slalom races and following with a tenth and a 15th in Monday's slalom races. "She skied really well and her seventh place result was the top first year finish for that race," remarked AVSC Alpine Head Age Class coach Alice Black. "Galena's a confident, aggressive skier who's proving she can put together consistent, fast runs." Teammate Hanna Mass easily qualified for the Championships with four top-20 finishes (19th twice in GS, 12th and 17th in slalom). "Hanna is a super strong skier who can handle a few bobbles and still post solid finishes," said Black.

Quincy Dollahan struggled Sunday morning giant slalom and finished 41st but stepped up in the afternoon to take 10th place. She backed it up with 17th and 19th place slalom finishes on Monday to ensure a spot at the Championships. "Quincy's second slalom race was phenomenal and shows she's a force out there," said Black.

Nikki Cardamone took 36th and 43rd on Sunday and 30th and 31st. Teammate Linzhi Douglass finished 33rd and 35th on Sunday and 36th and 34th on Monday. Both racers qualified for Junior Championships with Douglass claiming the final women's spot on the roster. "I'm excited for Linzhi," said Black. "She's a great role model with an upbeat attitude who loves to race."

Dolores Sharaf finished 34th and 44th in giant slalom and followed with a 41st and 38th in Monday's slalom. Nikki Blizzard was 50th and 57th on Sunday and 55th and 53rd on Monday competing against a field of 77 other racers.

Both Tristan Lane and Sky Kelsey battled for podium spots all weekend with Lane claiming second and fourth on Sunday and second and third on Monday. Kelsey couldn't finish on Sunday morning but bounced back for sixth in the afternoon. He made his move in Monday's slalom races taking third in the morning then winning the afternoon race. "Tristan's skiing flawlessly right now and Sky is channeling his intense focus and putting it all together," said Black.

Chapin Newhard finished seventh and fifteenth on Sunday and 25th and 17th on Monday. "Chapin's been on fire and is skiing really well.  He likes a direct line which is a high-risk, high reward strategy but when it works he's among the best," said Black. Teammate Luke Prosence took 12th and 13th on the Sunday but could not successfully navigate the slalom courses on Monday.  Lane, Kelsey, Newhard and Prosence all qualified to compete at the Junior Championships.

Graham Houtsma finished 34th and 46th on Sunday and 29th and 35th on Monday.  Jesse Ransford could not complete the giant slalom courses on Sunday but finished 39th and 49th on Monday. Erik Gagen took 47th and 38th, then 44th and 60th.  Kyle La Coutre finished 57th on Sunday afternoon and 55th on Monday afternoon out of a field of 71 skiers. "Not bad considering this is Kyle's very first season as a ski racer," said Black.

The USSA Rocky/Central J3 Junior Championships will be held March 4-10 in Vail. The event, formerly known as the Junior Olympics, features the top 13-14 year old ski racers from 18 states in the Rocky Mountain and Central Divisions.

The 2012 AVSC J3 Junior Championship Team:

Sky Kelsey
Tristan Lane
Chapin Newhard
Luke Prosence

Galena Wardle
Hanna Mass
Quincy Dollahan
Nikki Cardamone
Linzhi Douglass