Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat's boys alpine team hopes to make it three for three at a Slalom event Friday at Winter Park.

The Sailors, who opened their season by placing first at a Slalom meet Jan. 6 at home, were No. 1 again at a giant slalom race in Loveland last Friday.

Stewart Beall, who finished his opening run in 36.59 seconds, was second individually.

Cassidy Kurtz was also a second-place finisher for the Sailors. She led the girls team to a No. 6 finish.

Last week, several members of the Sailors boys team expressed resentment at the No. 5 ranking Steamboat received in The Denver Post at the beginning of the season. They believe the Sailors are the most talented team in the state.

It certainly appeared that way Friday.

Steamboat had three individuals place in the top 5, including Joe Liefer, Andrew Porter-Merrill and Beall. Liefer and Porter-Merrill came in third and fourth, respectively.

JoJo Bucci made perhaps the most significant strides from a week ago. The senior alpine skier finished 27 spots better than last week to place in the top 30.

Sailors coach Chris Arnis was encouraged by his team's performance, he said. Steamboat topped Vail Mountain School, which was second, and Battle Mountain and Aspen, which were tied for third.

"That's really exciting to have a team when they're down a little bit that can come back and step it up," Arnis said. "It's nice winning these races and all, but we've got to keep it up."

In other Sailors ski racing action, the nordic teams competed in a Classic event at Mount Sopris in Carbondale last Saturday.

Austin Ross represented the boys team with a ninth-place finish and Jessica Philip was second for the girls team.

The nordic teams next travel to Granby for a Classic event at Snow Mountain. The meet begins at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Alpine teams compete in a Slalom race at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Winter Park.