Anderson edges Sabin at Telemark Nationals

Shane Anderson of Cody, Wyo., earned the top perch on the podium for a second-straight day at the U.S. Telemark Nationals at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Friday.

Competing in the Men’s Elite division, Anderson turned in a winning time of 1:43.55 for the Classic. That was a strong enough effort to edge former world champion Reid Sabin of Whitefish, 1:44.46, who finished second.

Charlie Dresen of Steamboat Springs, Colo., and a former member of the U.S. Team, was third, 1:48.32.

The Classic is a lung-burning race that includes a jump, a 360-degree turn and a long Nordic skating section.

In the Women’s Elite race, Erika Walters of Steamboat Springs garnered top honors with a time of 1:56.90. Cody McCarthy of Whitefish placed second, 1:57.95, and Kelsey Schmid-Sommer of Whitefish posted the third-best time, 2:00.58.

Schmid-Sommer is the four-time defending women’s national champion.

Jay Dobbins of Whitefish finished second in Men’s Citizen and Scott Edgerton of Missoula was the runner-up in Men’s Masters.

Nationals began Thursday with the Telemark Giant Slalom.

In the Women’s Elite race, Walters again edged Schmid-Sommer for the No. 1 spot by two seconds with a time of 2:09.92.

Cody McCarthy of Whitefish was third, 2:14.42.

Anderson won the Men’s Elite race with a time of 1:57.19, again besting Sabin, 1:57.60.

Whitefish’s David Hobbs was third, 2:00.11.

Caleb Simpson of Whitefish won the Men’s Citizen, 2:45.45; Heidi Marcum of Whitefish won the Women’s Citizen, 2:48.97; and Chris Schwaderer of Whitefish finished second in Men’s Masters, 2:29.42.

The four-day event continues today and ends on Sunday.

Saturday: 10:30 a.m., Big Sky Brewing Sprint Classic and Banquet — A shorter version of the Classic, with two runs for combined time. 

Sunday: 10 a.m., Don K Subaru Pro Dual Slalom — A two-run format with combined time. There will be two side-by-side courses with a racer on each course. The pro-style slalom will have the gates set a little farther apart than the traditional alpine slalom.

For more information, go to http://www.ustsa.org