Whitefish telemarkers compete in Switzerland
Whitefish telemark racer Kelsey Schmid-Sommer took sixth place in the classic race at the Telemark World Championship in Thyon-Region, Switzerland, on March 20-25.
She also placed 15th in the sprint and 10th in the giant slalom. She was the only American woman in the races, as two others were injured earlier in the season.
Schmid-Sommer's father, Nick Connors, traveled to Switzerland to watch the races. He said his daughter fell as she passed a gate in the sprint race and was penalized.
Skiing conditions were better in Thyon-Region, Switzerland, than in Germany, he said, where snow had to be brought in for the races. But there wasn't much snow below 2,000 meters in Switzerland, Connors said, and the snow on the race course was hard and icy in places.
Connors said the team stayed together at the Thyon-Region resort and enjoyed all the attention that telemark skiers garner in Europe.
"I never thought I'd see my daughter signing autographs," Connors said.
With the World Championship event over, Schmid-Sommer and her husband Dave traveled to Chamonix, France, for some more skiing.
Whitefish High School senior David Hobbs was unable to enter the World Championship after he injured two vertebra while racing in the Telemark World Cup in Germany one week earlier. He was also unable to travel to Switzerland to watch the races.
Russ Hobbs said his son will arrive back in Whitefish this week. He had to book a business class seat so his son could lay down on the long flight back from Europe. David's mother, Linda, is with him.
"David injured his T6 and T7 vertebra, just below the shoulder blade," Russ said. "It's being described as a whiplash-type of injury."
Russ said his son will be skiing for sure next winter, but he might have to lay off water-skiing and unicycle-riding on Spencer Mountain trails this summer. Accommodations must also be made so he can attend school.
Eric Lamb, also of Whitefish, came in 19th in the men's giant slalom, 20th in the classic and 37th in the men's sprint races.
This is Lamb's fourth year on the U.S. Telemark A Team. Born in Miles City, Lamb started Nordic skiing when he was six years old and has been telemark skiing for 11 years.
At the World Cup in Germany, Lamb came in 22nd in both sprint and giant slalom and 25th in classic.
"My goal is to compete at the highest level and help get telemark in the 2010 Games," he said.
Results from the Telemark World Championship
Women's sprint — Kelsey Schmid-Sommer, 15th out of 24 finalists.
Women's giant slalom — Kelsey Schmid-Sommer, 10th out of 24 finalists.
Women's classic — Kelsey Schmid-Sommer, 6th out of 24 finalists.
Men's sprint — Drew Hauser, 6th, Brett Stein, 21st, Matthew McCartney, 27th, Andrew Minier, 36th, Eric Lamb, 37th, Brandon Moon, 54th, out of 70 finalists.
Men's giant slalom — Drew Hauser, 15th, Matthew McCartney, 18th, Eric Lamb, 19th, Brandon Moon, 41st, Brett Stein, 43rd, out of 67 finalists.
Men's classic — Brett Stein, 15th, Matthew McCartney, 18th, Eric Lamb, 20th, Drew Hauser, 28th, Andrew Minier, 51st, Brandon Moon, 61st, out of 67 finalists.