BIG SKY, Mont.—Montana State’s Garret Driller and Alaska Anchorage’s Charley Field won the men’s and women’s RMISA giant slalom qualifier races at Big Sky in Montana on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first career giant slalom win for Driller, who won a slalom race last season. Montana State placed all five of its men’s alpine skiers in the top 10, as Jeffrey Bell finished third, Addison Dvoracek fourth, Morten Bakke eighth and Patrick Carry ninth. Colorado’s Ola Johnasen was also on the podium in second. Denver had two skiers in the top 10 in Nick Santaniello in sixth and Tanner Farrow in 10th. Also in the top 10 was New Mexico’s Tyler Theis (fifth) and Utah’s Sam Dupratt (seventh).
For the women, it was Field’s first career RMISA victory. She was joined on the podium by Utah’s Ann-Kathrin Breuning, who was competing in her first race for the Utes after skiing three seasons for Westminster. She finished second overall. Kari Hole in third was one of three Montana State skiers in the top 10, joining Benedicte Lyche (sixth) and Stephanie Gartner (10th). Denver also had three skiers in the top 10 with Kristine Aasberg fifth, Tuva Norbye eighth and Amelia Smart ninth. Also in the top 10 was New Mexico’s Katharine Irwin in fourth and Colorado’s Tonje Trulsrud in seventh.
The RMISA alpine qualifier races do not count towards any team scoring and are used as an extra opportunity for skiers to earn qualification points for the NCAA Championships at the end of the season.
The alpine teams continue at Big Sky as the Montana State Invitational begins on Sunday, Jan. 7, with the men’s and women’s giant slalom races. Live timing is available at http://www.ussalivetiming.com/.