SSRA had outstanding results from both the men's and women's team contributing to a 4 th place finish for the overall team title-the best showing in the Inland Northwest and the best in recent years for SSRA. Rachel Sandvig ( Spokane ), Kristen Lindsay ( Spokane ), Mattie Orme ( Spokane ), Ellie LaRocca ( Spokane ), Sierra Schrankel ( Spokane ), Carolann Christensen (Mead), Taylor Gordon (Mead) and Alex DeVries ( Spokane ), Blake Bledsoe (Liberty Lake), Alex Burandt (Spokane), Hunter Downs (Spokane), Robert Kincaid (Spokane), Austin Walker (Spokane), Alec Ferraro (Chatteroy), Josh Honnold (Spokane) and John-Michael Larson (Spokane) helped S.S.R.A reach its highest placing as an overall team in over a decade.

Rachel Sandvig and Kristen Lindsay led the girls team, scoring top 10's in the giant slalom with a 4th and an 8th place finish, respectively. Mattie Orme showed no mercy to the competition and moved up to finish 29th. Sierra Schrankel did the same finishing 56th with Taylor Gordon close behind in 66th. Alex Devries moved way up from the eighth seed to finish 93rd in a field of 138 girls. In the slalom, Kristen Lindsay led the girls in 33rd after some trouble second run. Ellie LaRocca and Mattie Orme finished strong with a 42nd and a 48th respectively. Sierra "I love slalom"Schrankel surprised herself with a 53th, an even stronger showing than in the giant slalom! And Alex DeVries put two solid runs together to finish 71st out of 137 girls. Way to go ladies!

Blake Bledsoe led the boys finishing 3rd in the slalom and 1st in the giant slalom, winning the overall boys title. Alex Burandt had two strong days of racing finishing 33rd in the giant slalom and 37th in the slalom. Hunter Downs put the hammer down and scored a 48th in the GS and a 62nd in the slalom. Robert Kincaid snagged 49th in the GS, right behind Downs, and took 72nd in the slalom. Austin Walker, Texas Ranger, finished 83rd in the GS and moved up 39 places to grab 53rd in the slalom. Alec Ferraro (AKA, the move-up Czar), stomped through the field moving waaaaaay up in GS to finish 63rd and moved up 60 places in the slalom to place 84th. Josh Honnold attatcked from the back of the pack to finish 86th in the GS and 75th in the SL while John-Michael Larson took the bad boy line to 90th in the GS out of field of 153 boys. Outstanding, gentlemen!

“The overall team placing 4th was a strong showing. The majority of our team will be eligible again next year and several other fast young skiers will be joining them. The boys took the overall title; they are the champions! Each of the boys did their part to show the division where the fastest skiers reside; the EAST SIDE. The girls perfomed exceptionally well, finishing 6th as a team. If it wasn't for a little tough luck on Sunday, they would have been in the top 3, they're just that good! Rachel Sandvig and Kristen Lindsay really stepped up and we saw strong performances from Mattie Orme right on through the 8 th seeds. I'm proud of our girls,” commented Chuck Holcomb, SSRA Program Director/Head Coach.

The team overall title (boys and girls teams, combined) was won by host Team Alpental-Snoqualmie with a point total of 3006. Stevens Pass was second with 2908, Cooper Spur was third with 2869, Spokane Ski Racing Association was 4 th with 2839 and Mount Bachelor was 5 th with 2757.

“The team earned the award through hard work, dedication and a genuine love for the sport,” commented Jeremy Anderson, S.S.R.A's Youth Ski League Head Coach

“The fourth place finish overall was perhaps the most rewarding of all. A lot of effort is put forth by athletes, parents and coaches to accomplish such a feat. And Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park has played a large part in all of the team's accomplishments this weekend. They are incredible and tireless supporters of ski racing. The environment and attitude towards ski racing is second to none at Mt. Spokane ” stated Chuck Holcomb, SSRA Program Director/Head Coach.