Borrowed skis a lifesaver for local telemarker
Kelsey Schmid-Sommer claims Women's U.S. National Telemark championship
Whitefish's Kelsey Schmid-Sommer repeated as the Women's U.S. National Telemark Champion in Steamboat Springs, Colo., last weekend with a little help from her friends.
Schmid-Sommer won all four races - the giant slalom, slalom, sprint classic and classic races - en route to her title mainly because of her talent.
But she took top honors in the giant slalom, the first event, on borrowed skis.
"My luggage did not arrive that night (before the race)," Schmid-Sommer said.
"I was up all night (searching for equipment). I had to borrow skis, a helmet and a pole for my first run. In the second run, my skis arrived."
And if that wasn't enough, Schmid-Sommer had to contend with another distraction in the slalom.
The first competitor on the course broke her leg. Schmid-Sommer, the second skier out, arrived on the scene to see the fallen skier screaming in pain.
"They had to stop me and I had to go and do a re-run," she said.
"That was just another mental challenge to go back to the top, clear my mind of what I saw, and concentrate on the race. That was another hurdle."
Schmid-Sommer, 30, has lived in Whitefish since 2000. She grew up in New Hampshire.
"I learned to telemark here in Montana," she said.
"I grew up Alpine racing until I was 18."
She learned telemark skiing while attending the University of Montana in 1995.
Other members of the Big Mountain Telemark Team had successful weekends as well, according to a press release from Linda Hobbs.
For the men, Shane Anderson finished second, Peter McMahon sixth, David Hobbs seventh and Eric Lamb eighth.
Neil Persons, battling back from last year's knee injury, was 15th overall.
Cole Schneider placed 20th overall in his first national championships.
Glenn Gustafson was unable to race due to a knee injury he suffered last year, but worked the event as an official.
Whitefish's Brian Marcum and Austin Troiano competed in the Citizen's division along with Kris Nabozney, formerly of Whitefish.
Marcum finished first, Nabozney second and Troiano third.
Willie Hobbs, competing in a very competitive junior division, placed 10th overall.
Heidi Fehlhaber tied for second place behind Schmid-Sommer while Jeannine Poucel placed fifth.
Schmid-Sommer will be one of four Big Mountain Telemark Race Team members on the U.S. National Telemark squad competing in Europe later this month. Hobbs, Anderson and Lamb are the other three. There are nine skiers on the U.S. team.
Up first is the World Cup Finals in Bad Hinderlang, Germany, Thursday through next Sunday. The World Championships follow March 20-25 in Thyon Region, Switzerland. The finals are held every year and the championships every two years.
Schmid-Sommer, a local artist who specializes in wooden bird sculptors, is competing at this level for just the second season.
Last year she qualified for two World Cup events - Schweitzer Mountain Ski Area in Idaho and Kimberley, B.C. - placing fifth in one race.
"This year, I'm hoping to repeat that," she said.
"There will be more competition (in Europe).
"I'm definitely in better shape this year," she said.
"I learned how to skate ski, which helps in the sprint classic and the classic."
Schmid-Sommer said "at the moment," the sprint classic is her best race.
"It's a shorter version of the classic and it has all the elements - gates, a jump, a 360-degree turn and then skating. It's a lot of fun."
Schmid-Sommer said the support she has received from the Flathead Valley ski community has been overwhelming.
"A special thanks to the Whitefish ROMEO's, a local group that has supported me," she said.
"Richard and Carol Atkinson and Dee Steckler. Lots of friends and family who have supported me financially and with advice."
U.S. National Telemark Championship
Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Results for local competitors
Giant Slalom
Women's Elite
1. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer; 2. Heidi Fehlhaber; 5. Jeannine Poucel
Men's Elite
4. David Hobbs; 5. Peter McMahn; 7. Eric Lamb; 9. Shane Anderson; 15. Neil Persons
Men's Citizen
3. Brian Marcum; 4. Kris Nabozney; 5. Austin Troiano
Junior Men
9. Willie Hobbs
Dual Slalom
Women's Elite
1. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer; 2. Heidi Fehlhaber; 5. Jeannine Poucel
Men's Elite
1. Shane Anderson; 3. Peter McMahon; 11. Eric Lamb; 14. David Hobbs; 15. Neil Persons; 19. Cole Schneider
Men's Citizens
2. Kris Nabozney
Junior Men
9. Willie Hobbs
Classic
Women's Elite
1. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer; 3. Heidi Fehlhaber; 4. Jeannine Poucel
Men's Elite
2. Shane Anderson; 4. Eric Lamb; 5. David Hobbs; 7. Peter McMahon; 15. Cole Schneider ; 20. Neil Persons
Men's Citizen
1. Kris Nabozney; 2. Brian Marcum; 3. Austin Troiano
Junior Men
10. Willie Hobbs
Sprint Classic
Women's Elite
1. Kelsey Schmid-Sommer; 5. Jeannine Poucel
Men's Elite
3. Shane Anderson; 5. Eric Lamb; 6. David Hobbs; 13. Neil Persons; 15. Peter McMahon; 16. Cole Schnieder
Men's Citizen
1. Brian Marcum; 4. Austin Troiano
Junior Men
14. Willie Hobbs
Bumps
Women's Open
1. Heidi Fehlhaber; 4. Jeannine Poucel
Men's Open
4. David Hobbs; 5. Shane Anderson; 8. Cole Schneider
Junior Men
7. Willie Hobbs
Slopestyle
Men's Open
2. David Hobbs
Junior Men
6. Willie Hobbs