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Surefoot Holiday Classic

Steamboat Springs — Here is to making sure there is another slalom race on See Me at Steamboat Ski Area in the near future. 

With the Surefoot Holiday Classic in town again, and with four days of races lined up, the ski area played host to an FIS slalom race for the first time since 1993. 

And what a slalom race it was, with the men’s title being decided by 1/100 of second and the women’s field becoming a battle of attrition. 

In the end, University of Utah skier Anna Kocken was first among the women, maneuvering the course in 1 minute, 27.33 seconds. Fellow Ute Tii-Maria Romar was second in 1:28.29, and U.S. Ski Team member Abby Ghent was third in 1:28.68. Former Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club skier Mary Rachel Hostetter finished just off the podium in fourth. Jenny Allen was eighth, and Natalie Pearl was 10th — both also former Winter Sports Club skiers.

The women’s course proved to be the biggest obstacle Tuesday. After 72 skiers made it through the first run, the second run saw 26 girls not finish and two others get disqualified. A majority of the field struggled with a flush configuration of gates after the pitch of See Me. Most girls couldn’t control their speed going into the flush. 

“I heard a couple girls went out,” Kocken said. “I didn’t realize there was that many people going out. But that’s slalom. I actually was stable. I’m usually pretty balanced and a stable skier. My coach told me about the ruts.”

On the men’s side, University of New Mexico skier Christopher Acosta put together a solid pair of runs to withstand a blistering second run from Ryan Wilson. 

Acosta, a junior, had the best first run and did enough in his second run to get his first win in Steamboat. 

“I think second runs are always challenging, especially when you’re in the lead on the first run,” Acosta said. “The course has deteriorated, for one. Then there is the mental side of things where you know you’re in the lead, and you have to keep it. I actually tend to get too aggressive. But I try and calm my body and mind down.”

The event also brought more than 25 current or former Winter Sports Club athletes to the mountain. 

“It’s amazing,” said Ryan McConnell, a former Winter Sports Club skier and current University of Montana skier who finished 24th on Tuesday. “I love it. It’s great to be home for the holidays and to go out and have fun. I get to see all my buddies. We all get to come together again.”

The racing continues Wednesday with slalom action at Howelsen Hill. The women’s first run is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m. with the men’s to follow. 

The women’s final run will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s slated for 6:45 p.m. The final runs will take place under the lights of Howelsen. 

Results from Tuesday's race

Women’s slalom

Top 20

1. Anna Kocken 1:27.33
2. Tii-Maria Romar 1:28:29
3. Abby Ghent 1:28.68
4. Mary Rachel Hostetter 1:28.92
5. Devin Delaney 1:29.40
6. Greta Byrne 1:29.56
7. Taylor Rapley 1:29.81
8. Jenny Allen 1:29.83
9. Cassady Roberts 1:30.88
10. Natalie Pearl 1:32.27
11. Kristina Krone 1:33:13
12. Elizabeth Strong 1:33.26
13. Destrey Enders 1:33.44
14. Ann West 1:33.53
15. Miranda Sheely 1:34.76
16. Erika McCormick 1:35.03
17. Megan Grassell 1:35.18
18. Nicolette Caravelli 1:36.25
19. Suzanne Lyon 1:37.74
20. Nicole Taylor 1:39.96

Men’s slalom

Top 20

1. Christopher Acosta 1:27.48
2. Ryan Wilson 1:27.49
3. Torjus Krogdahl 1:27.89
4. Max Lamb 1:28.22
5. Andreas Adde 1:28.28
6. Fletcher McDonald 1:28.55
7. Taylor Shiffrin 1:28.59
8. Joonas Rasanen 1:28.69
9. Juho-Pekka Penttinen 1:28.74
10. Christopher Kollenborg 1:28.87
11. Derek Strand 1:29.24
12. Bart Mollin 1:29.24
13. Sean Horner 1:29.93
14. Adam Barwood 1:30.06
15. Bryan Shpall 1:30.14
16. Charlie Reynolds 1:30.34
17. James Schindler 1:30.51
18. Dylan Brooks 1:30.6
19. Mark Miller 1:30.80
20. Finlay Neeson 1:31.15

— To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com