Dave Gibson, Nederland. The Nederland and BVSD High School team defended their mountain at Eldora Resort Friday, February 14, 2020, for their only home appearance of the year. Comprised of roughly 25 boys and 25 girls from all over the Boulder Valley School District, they faced off against Clear Creek, Evergreen Valley, Battle Mountain, Middle Park, Lake County, and Platte Canyon. Sunny, warm and windy conditions greeted racers on the bottom half of the La Belle Dame run slalom course of perfectly groomed snow. Having placed highly in their previous contests, they hoped for another strong showing in a field of 210 ski racers.  

The best combined time of two runs for each competitor would determine the outcome. The freshmen through senior boys took to the course first followed by the girls. Many of the racers’ skills were advanced while others were just intermediate but improving week by week. Team membership is available to anyone wanting to participate. The order was reversed for the second runs which wrapped up with the boys at the end of the ski day.

In his first-ever Colorado High School Ski League individual victory, Max Lynch of the Nederland Ski Team grabbed top honors by over a second in the boy’s division with a total time of 1:34.24. Called a “beautiful skier with amazing abilities” by his coach, he is one of four team captains that lead course inspections and help build unity. Second place went to Jakub Pecinka from Battle Mountain at 1:35.31. Nederland Ski Team’s Carter Tomasko was fifth. The boys also did well in the Team Overall category placing second behind Battle Mountain. Nederland’s top girl finisher was junior Kate Skilbred in fifth place with a time of 1:46.32. The girls finished third in the Team Overall.

Head Coach Seth Waldman offers on behalf of all the coaches, assistants, and volunteers, “The Nederland/BVSD Alpine Ski Team is generously supported by Eldora Ski Resort and the Eldora Mountain Ski Club (EMSC) without either of which athletes could not be provided such tremendous opportunities for growth as racers and as students. Based out of Nederland High School, this whole district team takes great pride in being a part of the Nederland community.

NED HS Alpine coaches are incredibly proud of all their athletes as outstanding team members, great students and well-rounded individuals who are supportive with one another and work hard to win for Nederland.

Special thanks are extended to Brent Tragaskis, Sam Bass and Tom Ferland of Eldora; Matt Tomasko of EMSC; Nederland High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Chuck Doudna; and of course the parent community who all help to make this team successful and fun.”

The Alpine Ski Team’s last competition of the year will be held at Loveland Ski Area, February 21, 2020. The State Finals take place at Beaver Creek, February 27–28. 

(Originally published in the February 20, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)