Local ski racers compete at Lone Peak Speed Series
Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 10 months, 1 week AGO
Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation athletes travelled to Big Sky, Montana, last week for a Super-G speed camp followed by three SG races at the Lone Peak Speed Series, a U14/U16 Northern Division Qualifier.
Colter Bengtson won all three races for the U14 boys, Leo Bungener earned two third place finishes for U16 boys and Parker Retz won two second place finishes for U18 boys. Claire Graham won once and finished in second place twice U14 girls and Sydney McPhie won third place in the U16 race.
Other notable top 5 results include Finlee Klocke with two fourth place finishes in the U14 girls and Sierra Nelson with a fifth in the U14 girls race.
The race series was one of several this winter to qualify Northern Division athletes to the Western Regional Championships at Schweitzer, Idaho, (U16) and Mammoth, California, (U14) and the Tri-Divisional Championships at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, (U14 and U16) in late March.
Whitefish Mountain Resort will host Northern Division Youth Ski League races for U12 and U10 Feb. 22 - 23. Watch the races and support your local ski racers from along the course on Ed’s Run or at the finish, just north of Ed & Mully’s restaurant.
SG1
U14 Girls: Claire Graham 2, Finlee Klocke 4, Sierra Nelson 5, Ella Elliott 15, Kessa Drendel 17. U16 Girls: Sydney McPhie 7, Kira Paatalo 13, Avery Retz 15. U18 Girls: Guinevere Tomblin 9.
U14 Boys: Colter Bengtson 1, Nolan Shaw 17. U16 Boys: Leo Bungener 3, Cristiano Wright 10. U18 Boys: Parker Retz 2.
SG 2
U14 Girls: Claire Graham 2, Sierra Nelson 6, Finlee Klocke 7, Ella Elliott 16, Kessa Drendel 22. U16 Girls: Sydney McPhie 3, Kira Paatalo 12, Avery Retz 19. U18 Girls: Guinevere Tomblin 10
U14 Boys: Colter Bengtson 1, Nolan Shaw 16. U16 Boys: Leo Bungener 3, Cristiano Wright 9. U18 Boys: Parker Retz 2
SG 3
U14 Girls: Claire Graham 1, Finlee Klocke 4, Kessa Drendel 14, Ella Elliott 17. U16 Girls: Kira Paatalo 9, Avery Retz 11. U18 Girls: Guinevere Tomblin 7.
U14 Boys: Colter Bengtson 1, Nolan Shaw 19.
Claire Graham of Whitefish earned a trip to the podium in Big Sky. (Photo provided)
Colter Bengtson of West Glacier podiums in Big Sky. (Photo provided)