by Marianne Christy
It was a busy three days at McCauley Mountain as the Polar Bear Ski Club hosted the Kandahar Festival Ski Race on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday February 26, 27 and 28th.
The weekend began with a training day on Friday followed by a Komri Race on Saturday and a Giant Slalom (GS) race on Sunday. Race winners were determined by the overall results of the two competitions.
Medals were awarded to the top 10 male and female finishers in each age category: 10 and under (U10), 11 to 12 (U12) and 13 to 14 (U14).
Due to their fine results, the following Polar Bears were named to the Kandahar Championship Team and will compete in the championships at Hunt Hollow in Naples, NY on Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5th: Karleigh Hollister, Alexis Heath, Johanna Lutz, and Thomas Levi.
Karleigh was also the recipient of the Girls U12 Skimeister Award for having the best combined times for the weekend.
The Kandahar event drew approximately 200 young skiers and their families to the area who represented clubs from Snow Ridge, Woods Valley, Dry Hill, Labrador, Song Mountain, Toggenburg and others.
According to Polar Bear representative Andrea Hollister, she has received a number of compliments from participating families—verbally and via email—regarding the friendly nature of McCauley as a host mountain and the convenience of being located in such close proximity to area motels, restaurants, stores, theatre, etc.
“It’s uncommon to have so many conveniences nearby…generally we have to travel much longer distances,” she said.
On behalf of the Polar Bears, Hollister thanked all the families and volunteers who offered their assistance before, during and following the race, and also the entire McCauley Mountain staff.
The Polar Bear results of the Kandahar Races are as follows:
Saturday, February 27
U10 Girls
3rd – Schuyler Uzdavinis
15th – Grace Heath
17th – Eliza Greene
U12 Girls
1st – Karleigh Hollister
5th – Alexis Heath
18th – Mia Diorio
dnf – Macie Eisenhart
U14 Girls
8th – Maria Lutz
dnf – Johanna Lutz dnf
U10 Boys
18th – Kayden Langworthy
U12 Boys
5th – Thomas Levi
19th – Richard Lutz
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Sunday, February 28
U10 Girls
9th – Schuyler Uzdavinis
18th – Gracie Heath
21st – Eliza Greene
U12 Girls
2nd – Karleigh Hollister
11th – Alexis Heath
12th – Macie Eisenhart
dsq – Mia DiOrio
U14 Girls
2nd – Johanna Lutz 2
dsq – Maria Lutz
U10 Boys
dnf – Kayden Langworthy
U12 Boys
9th – Thomas Levi
16th – Richard Lutz