Skiing

New start

Racers rocket out of Holiday Mountain start shack; Haley and Ryan Heins tops from Sullivan County

By RICHARD A. ROSS

BRIDGEVILLE, NY - The new era began on January 20 as Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States, amid great hope for a new start.

Late in the day, skiers from area schools celebrated their own new start, as they rocketed out of the newly opened start gate atop the 25-foot-high shack at Holiday Mountain.

Snow conditions were fast with packed powder for the Giant Slalom races featuring skiers from Onteora, Rondout Valley, Kingston, Monticello, Sullivan West, Liberty, Fallsburg/Tri-Valley and Middletown.

In the girls race, Onteora’s Marlise Combe finished first in 27:37. Teammate Clair Wilsey was second in 24.37, with Monticello’s Haley Heins finishing third in 24:85. Kendra Erts of Fallburg/Tri-Valley (T-V) was fourth (25.28). Devinne Dupuy of Monticello finished eighth (26.03). Sarah Coney of Fallsburg/T-V took ninth (26.06) and Sullivan West’s Kassie Thelman took 10th (26:11).

Onteora took first in the team standings (1:39.38). Monticello was second (1:44.94) and Fallsburg/T-V was third (1:47.15). Sullivan West took fourth (1:58.31).

Onteora won the boys team title (1:34.81). Fallsburg/T-V finished second (1:37.44) and Monticello came in third (1:38.81). Sullivan West finished sixth (1:46.56).

Onteora’s Brad Clark was the fastest finisher (21.98). Kingston’s Bradley Merrill was second (22:28), and Rondout Valley’s Trevor Davenport took third (23:09). Ryan Heins of Monticello was the county’s top finisher, taking fifth (23:32) behind Onteora’s Joe Vanacore (23:16). Richard Heins of Monticello was sixth (23:42). Sullivan West’s Alex Lander was seventh (23:52), and Fallsburg/T-V’s John Bernstein was ninth (23:64). Bernstein skied with a knee brace after suffering a recent injury.

In the January 22 slalom races, Ryan Heins (35.07) finished fifth. Rich Heins (35.18) was sixth and Bernstein (36.01) was 10th. Fallsburg/T-V finished second in team scoring to Onteora, with a combined time of 2:18.48. Monticello was third in 2:29.77.

Haley Heins (35.07) was second in the girls race. Kassie Thelman of Sullivan West was sixth (40.32). Erts (42.36) was eighth and Rachel Klein of Monticello was ninth (42.46). Monticello finished second to Onteora in team standing with a combined time of 2:53.27. Fallsburg/T-V was third (2:57.16).

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of race photos.