PARK CITY -- The Canyons Resort hosted the Master Jans Cup slaloms last weekend. Racers battled it out on the Sunrise Run at the resort in spring-like snows that some refer to as mashed potatoes.
It was those racers who completed both their runs in the mush each day that got their "gravy." Saturday's snow held a bit more firm as overcast skies helped keep things a bit cooler, but Sunday's gorgeous sun coupled with turny courses brought a bit of challenge for even some of the top racers on the mountain that day.
Saturday's top men blazed through the course and overcame the flat light and poor visibility. Craig Norton reeled in the men's top time of the day on his two runs (1:17:48). Rick Slabinski was tight on his heels and brought in the second overall men's time of the day (1:17.97).
Rounding out the top three men of the day was Bobby Skinner (1:18.60).
The women had a story of their own to tell on Saturday. After a scorching first run, Jenny Badger had a solid 0.47 second lead over Beth Sarazine heading into the second run, but ran into trouble at the bottom of the course and was disqualified. Taking home the overall time for the day was Sarazine (1:24.01).
Dana Alexandrescu of Park City laid out two great runs to take the second overall time of the day (1:25.57). The Park City gals were looking good as Karen Keating grabbed the third overall time of the day (1:29.08).
Sunday's men were out for the gravy and it was messy for a few. The Super Seed (top 10 men after the first run) lost three of its men on the second run as course conditions got the best of a few good men.
Rising to the top, again, was Norton (1:19.07). Norton managed to pull out two phenomenal runs and the top-five men were all within a second of him. In fact, talk about close, Skinner (1:19.10) held strong for the second top men's time, just 0.03 seconds from Norton, while Chris Probert (1:19.16) took home an impressive third overall time.
On Sunday, it was another close race for the women. Alexandrescu dominated the first run of the day and held strong in the second run to snag the overall best women's time for the day (1:24.58). Sarazine tossed out an improved second run and securing the second overall women's time (1:25.40).
It was a close race for the 3rd overall position between Amy Lanzel and Keating, but Keating (1:26:80) edged out Lanzel by just 0.02 seconds on the second run to take the No. 3 overall women's podium spot for the day.
Division winners for Sunday's slalom: John Bloomberg, Meredith Hall, Dick Rusden, Debra MacKenzie, Amy Lanzel, Dasha Kadulova, Nick Hudson, Jackson Allred, Frank Kruse, Michael Falk, Brent Amsbury Stephen Balog, Luke Renshaw.
Next weekend, Snowbasin will be hosting the final race of the Jans Cups series that will include one Super G and two GS races. The end of the regular season is fast approaching as Masters are preparing for the Nationals that will be held at Park City Mountain Resort, March 19-23, and the FIS Masters Criterium the following week at Mammoth Mountain.
For more information, visit www. Intermountainmasters.org.
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