Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Breckenridge's Eric Scott cruised down Howelsen Hill in 38.96 seconds Wednesday to remain No. 1 at Steamboat's Rocky Mountain Division Men's Alpine Slalom Event.

Scott, who skis for Team Quantum, ended his first run in 40.72 seconds, which was the fastest time overall in that round.

Even though his next run produced a faster time, he was challenged by David Chodounsky of Crested Butte Academy, who finished with a better time of 38.41 in the second round.

But Chodounsky finished his first run in 42.25 seconds, which ended up giving him a second-place finish.

More than 150 individuals competed in the men's and women's races that took place during a mostly sunny afternoon.

The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club saw one of its members Gaspar Perricone place in the top 5.

Perricone, who wrestles for the Steamboat Sailors, clocked in a 38.75-second performance his second time around, which was good enough to earn him the fourth-place spot.

Amy Brunkow, who represents Ski Club Vail, beat out competitor Helena Woodrow by .48 seconds to claim the No. 1 spot in the women's race. She finished with a total time of 1 minute and 19.20 seconds. Woodrow came in second at 1 minute and 19.68 seconds.

"I was just hoping to make it down (the hill)," Brunkow said. "I wanted to do well, but I wasn't expecting to win it."

Kimberly Stephens placed third in the Women's Slalom and Dusty Marie Matheson and Catherine Baskins rounded out the top 5.

Tony Nunnikhoven, Winter Sports Club alpine program director, said it was a good outing for the first-place finishers, considering neither one was from Steamboat.

"Howelsen is one of the toughest Slalom hills in the country," Nunnikhoven said. "If a skier does well here, that's a great thing. It was a great race," he said. "We had some excellent skiers here."

Another Slalom Event begins today at about 8:30 a.m., which marks when the men will start their first run. The women's race gets under way at about 12:30 p.m.