MASTERS
Masters
Turning Copper to Gold
JESSIE MCALEER RULES THE 2011 SKIERS EDGE MASTERS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN COLORADO BY BILL MCCOLLOM
Preparing for the Skier’s Edge Masters National Championships
from March 22-26, Jessie McAleer looked forward to the trip to Cop-
per Mountain, Colo. She was hopeful that her dream season would
continue. Only on two occasions has a woman (Carolyn Beckedorff)
beaten the entire field on the New England Masters tour, but this sea-
son alone, McAleer bested both women and men five times. Taking
the show on the road to the Nationals, however, would be the true
test for the Class 4 racer from Lexington, Mass. Here she would be
competing on the biggest stage against the fastest racers nationwide,
including Jennifer Kaufman (RM, Class 4), Dana Alexandrescu (IM,
Class 2), Jennifer Higgins (RM, Class 1), and Lisa Densmore (EA,
Class 5).
Trailing Jessie McAleer is always entertaining. Uninhibited, gregari-
ous, and gracious, she could be considered the ultimate masters ski
racing entertainment center. Always bouncing to a tune playing in her
head or acting out a role from one of her favorite movies, she emits
enough energy to light a small city for days. Underneath the red hair,
freckles, and engaging smile, however, is a fiercely competitive athlete
— one who has been rewriting the masters ski racing record books
this season.
March 22, C/D Super Combined
Several inches of new snow clogged up the super G portion of the
opening super combined race, but after some leg-burning side slip-
ping, Rosie’s Run was ready for racing.
“I was anxious before the race,” said McAleer. “I’d only run one super
G all season and I was skiing on a 190 GS ski. But I took some fast
runs the day before and worked my way into a comfort zone.”
Jessie McAleer
JACK BALLARD
SkiRacing.com APRIL 7, 2011 | 56
