Skiing
Alpine Skiing Yote Notes - Edition 4
02.08.2010
LAST WEEK: at NWCSC Qualifier #4, Mission Ridge (Day 1 – Men 4th Women 4th, Day 2 – Men 4th, Women 2nd)
COMING UP: at USCSA Western Regionals, Snow Basin Resort (Huntsville, Utah), Feb. 18-20.
TOUGH BREAKS END LADY YOTES RUN ATOP CONFERENCE: It was a tough weekend for The College of Idaho women’s alpine ski team, as the Lady Yotes watched as the University of British Columbia ended the Purple and Gold’s six-year stranglehold on the Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference title. Saturday, despite a pair of Top-5 finishes by the Lady Yotes, none of the remaining three competitors for The C of I could complete their two runs – dropping the squad from a possible title, to fourth. On Sunday, the Coyotes were in position again, however, a missed gate on a second run was costly, allowing UBC to win by six seconds. In the end, UBC finished with a five-point lead among the Top-6 scoring races of the season, giving the Canadian club their first-ever NWCSC title.
THREE LADY YOTES EARN ALL-NWCSC HONORS: Three Lady Yotes were named to the All-NWCSC team, comprised of the Top-10 cumulative scorers during the eight-race season. Gabrielle Gould (East Burke, Vt. / U. of Vermont) had a monster weekend, logging back-to-back second place finishes, ending up fourth in the overall standings. Kelley Fitzpatrick (Keizer, Ore. / McNary HS), who finished seventh in Sunday’s race, claimed seventh overall, while Lara Mann (Bedford, Mass. / New Hampton School), who finished fourth on Saturday, was one of only two skiers to score in all eight races this winter, taking ninth overall.
COYOTE MEN STRUGGLE, OSTRAND CARRIES THE BANNER: For the second straight weekend, the Coyote men had their struggles on the hill, finishing fourth in each of the two qualifying races – ending up fourth overall in the final NWCSC team race. The lone Coyote to earn All-NWCSC honors was Eric Ostrand (Gilford, N.H. / Gilford HS), who finished in sixth-place in Sunday’s finale – the only C of I skier to record a Top-12 finish during the two-day event.
TOP-5 MEN/WOMEN: Men – Matt Bunston (U. of British Columbia) 513, Erik Anderson (U. of Idaho) 460, Chris Machesney (Whitman) 350, Tim Bak (Whitman) 310, Bradley West (Whitman) 301; Women – Emma Beattie (U. of British Columbia) 600, Lexie Drechsel (Whitman) 325, Taylor Cudahy (U. of Oregon) 321, Gabrielle Gould (C of I ) 317, Allison Howe (U. of Washington) 315.
A WEEK TO PREPARE FOR REGIONALS: The Coyotes will take a week off from competition, preparing for the USCSA Western Regionals, Feb. 18-20, at Snow Basin Resort in Utah. The C of I will compete against teams from the NWCSC, along with the Rocky Mountain and Grand Teton Conferences, to determine five berths to the USCSA National Championships.
ABOUT THE COACH: Ron Bonneau is in his 20th season as head coach for The C of I alpine ski programs. During his tenure at The C of I, the native of New Hampshire has seen the Coyote men's team qualify for the USCSA championships on 12 occasions, with the women's team making appearances 15 times. His 2004 women's squad finished second in the nation in the slalom and fourth in the alpine combined. The Coyotes have seen much success in the 21st Century, as both the men's and women's programs, under Bonneau's direction, have won six-consecutive Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference championships, with the Lady Yotes taking home Western Regional championships in 1999, 2003 and 2006. His women's teams have advanced to 11-consecutive USCSA championships, finishing in the Top-9 in nine of the 11 appearances. Bonneau, a graduate of Plymouth State College, replaced Tom Olson as the alpine ski coach in 1991 - and worked with Chris Melgaard on the nordic side to claim the women's nordic championships in 1994 and 1995. During his tenure, he has coached seven national champions, 56 All-Americans, and 76 All-America Scholar-Athletes. Prior to his time in the Gem State, Bonneau worked at ski resorts in Wachusett, Mass. and Haystack, Vt. Along with his duties with the ski program, he is the director of C of I's outdoor program. Bonneau and wife Michele live in Caldwell.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I alpine ski program, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/skiing.asp.
Recent Headlines:
02.07.2010
Lady Yote skiers finish 2nd in NWCSC
02.06.2010
Rough day on the slopes for Yote skiers
02.01.2010
Alpine Skiing Yote Notes - Edition 3
01.31.2010
Fitzpatrick takes 2nd in giant slalom race