The UBC Team was in Willamette Pass, Oregon Jan 22 & 23 competing in their season's first race series. The Ski-Birds came home with four team victories in the four races, with some very good skiing by all team members.
The women's Giant Slalom on saturday saw Andrea Lustenberger continue her winning ways, and UBC rookie Kaite Benjamin notched her first collegiate podium, finishing in third place. Joanna Rosenfeld skied to her best-ever finish, ending up in fifth spot. Kim Webber and Joanna Bennett also had strong performances, finishing in the top ten. With Shelane Wiseman, the UBC women had all six skiers finish in the top fifteen.
The men's side dominated the season opener as Jamie Finlayson struck gold in his collegiate debut, followed by veteran Trevor Bruce in third, and team captain Matt Woods in fifth. the UBC men were an amazing 25 seconds ahead of second place University of Idaho. Darren Bruce also skied very solid, notching a ninth place finish in his first collegiate race.
On sunday the results looked much the same, again with Andrea Lustenberger ahead of the field and Katie Benjamin in third. Joanna Rosenfeld continued with her steady skiing, again placing in the top five.
Jamie Finlayson also went two for two, followed by Trevor Bruce in second and new-comer Robbie Davidson finished in fourth to help the men's side to another team victory. Darren Bruce and Matt Woods also skied well, finishing seventh and ninth respectivly.
The Ski-Birds are off to Silver Mountain in Idaho for two slalom races this next weekend and look to continue their success on the slopes. UBC would also like to take this opportunity to offer our sympathy and warm thoughts to the family of long-time ski racer Morgan Hincks and boyfriend Paul Boskovich, as Morgan's parents were taken from us this weekend in an avalanche in St. Anton, Austria.