Ski Racing - March 12, 2012

MASTERS Super G winner Ben Green powers down the GS course.

Jim Thoman races to third place overall in GS.

Organizers were much relieved to see the
enthusiastic showing, particularly in light of a
snow-starved winter that has seen participation
lagging. There was no question about making
the trip for Bill Tomcich and Don Johnson, who
traveled from Colorado to race in the two super
Gs, which were a part of the National Molecule
F Speed Series. “This has been on our schedule
all winter,” said Tomcich. “Don and I figured we
could get to these super G races, leave the next
day, and still have time to start training for the
next Speed Series race in Idaho.”
Also, for those not planning on going to Park
City for the Nationals, the Easterns was “the big
one” for the season. “Heck, it’s only eight hours,”
said Lou Moore, winner of the overall combined
tally in his Class 4, who came with four other
racers from Ohio.

Super G
Peering over the steep drop at the top of the
Needle’s Eye to see the set for the super G, rac-
ers could be heard muttering: “It’s way too tight.”
“No way, that’s a bullet.” “At least the snow looks
good.” “Are you kidding? It’s a sheet of ice un-
der there.” Such is the nature of masters racing,
particularly on an unfamiliar venue. But suffice it
to say, the continuous pitch of the trail, the mul-
titude of bumps and rolls and the icy surface led
to plenty of speed for the fast skiers, and maxi-
mum challenge for all. As one racer quipped, “It
might have been a short hill at 45 seconds, but it
was a thrill-a-second.”
“The super G didn’t look particularly challeng-
ing, but with the snow being so hard and bumpy,
it was deceiving,” said Jim Thoman, an attorney
from Buffalo, New York and winner of the Class
2 combined tally. “I had a hard time holding an
edge, but it was great fun and great weather.”
With most racers able to find time for a tuck
only on the final two gates, strength and timing,
as opposed to gliding, were the keys to speed.
Class 2 Ben Green had both going for him to
score a double win in the two men’s super G
races. In the first race, which was designated
to count for the Eastern Championship, Class 3
Rick Cesati took the runner-up spot, with Class
6 New York ski racing warhorse Greg Sarkis in
third. In the second super G, which was scored
for the Molecule F Series, local Class 5 racer
and king of the Killington Ski Bum Series Bob
Sardelli posted second, leaving Cesati and Sar-
kis in third and fourth overall.
Class 13 racers George Caner and Duffy Dodge
had quite a battle going on in the two races.
Dodge fell in the first race to hand the victory
to Caner, but came back to race in the second
super G only to fall in nearly the same spot. This
time he picked himself up and continued — only
to have Caner nip him at the wire by 0.11 sec-
onds. “I’m just trying to stand up and get down
the course,” said the 87-year-old Caner, “which
is quite a project, you know.”
Jessie McAleer was also a double winner in the
women’s races, although she added an asterisk.
“I skied well, and I’m fine physically, but I’m still
not up to speed mentally,” said Class 4 McAleer,
who is coming back after a lower leg injury suf-
fered earlier this season. Lisa Marien, racing out
of Class 2, put down two good runs to finish sec-
ond in both races, leaving the ageless Class 7
Sally White in third in the first race, and Class I
Jackie Levy with the bronze in the second race.