CHARLEMONT – Western Massachusetts’ biggest, best beach party returned to the slopes of Berkshire East on Tuesday.
The PVIAC individual alpine skiing championships weren’t contested in 2021, leaving an animal onesie-sized hole in the racing calendar.
“Honestly, it’s the best day of the year. It’s something everybody looks forward to. It’s one of, honestly, it’s probably the funnest one,” Mohawk Trail senior Cali Price said. “It’s a whole party. I love it.”
There is racing, sure. But some don jean shorts, others dress up in costumes. It’s mostly an excuse to gather, cook food, blast music and celebrate a season well-contested.
“Not to have it, you take something away. It’s for themselves. It’s not a team event,” Mohawk Trail boys coach Sean Loomis said. “They can go out, they can enjoy it. They can do what they want. If they want to screw around for the day, they can screw around for the day. If they want to go out and try their hardest, they can try their hardest. It’s super important that we got it back.”
Covering individual skiing championship is the best because sometimes kids dress in a toucan Sam costume pic.twitter.com/pVaF8ul1Tk
— Kyle Grabowski (@kylegrbwsk) February 15, 2022
The Warriors swept the individual combined titles. They went 1-2 in the girls combined: Emily Sisum was first in 1 minute, 1.87 seconds, while Addie Loomis followed close behind in second (1:02.5).
“I’ve been here in the past to see what happens, but I’ve never actually experienced it as an athlete,” Sisum said. “It was everything I was hoping, just a lot of fun, really pretty chill.”
In addition to the combined title, Sisum also won the girls slalom (36.41). She tied for second in the giant slalom with Addie Loomis (25.46). Loomis, who dominated during the regular season, placed third in the GS (37.04).
Northampton’s Ellie Mahoney clocked the fastest time in the giant slalom (25.33). She placed third in the combined (1:02.56) and was fourth in the slalom (37.23).
“I really liked that it was a full day event, we didn’t have to go to school,” Mahoney said. “We can just end the season in a fun way.”
Sea Kay Leung of Amherst slotted sixth in the combined (1:06.13) behind balanced performances, taking sixth in the slalom (38.93) and seventh in the GS (27.2).
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School’s Juliet Scott made her way into the combined top 10 in ninth place (1:08.52). She was eighth in the slalom (40.12).
Ella Cleary posted Hampshire Regional’s best combined finish at 11th (1:08.73).
Weston Den Ouden made it a Mohawk Trail sweep by capturing first in the boys combined (59.32) and slalom (34.66). He took second in the GS (24.66).
“It was a firm surface, but it was a fun course, just a fun day,” Den Ouden said. “Firm ski racing is good. Firm surfaces make it easier to turn and perform.”
Hampshire Regional’s Edward Przybyla took first in the giant slalom (23.82). He finished third in the combined (1:02.18) and sixth in the slalom (38.36).
“The GS course was really nice, and the slalom course was worse for wear,” Przybyla said. “We still made it through.”
Keller Mahoney of Northampton placed sixth in the combined (1:03.87) on the strength of fifth in the slalom (37.83) and seventh in the GS (26.04).
PVCICS’ Sebastian English took 15th in the combined (1:14.05). He was fifth in the GS (25.85).
Ben Oates was Amherst’s top boys finisher in 39th in the combined (1:36.33).
Mohawk trail cleaned up in the individual awards, as well. The Warriors captured both PVIAC North division titles.
“This is super fun. Even though we know it’s coming, it’s still the experience of receiving it and going up there and getting all the claps, it’s amazing,” Price said. “We’re super fortunate every year we get it.”
Mohawk Trail skiers also littered the top of the North Division season-long individual podiums.
Addie Loomis won the last six races to capture the league title with a clean 60 points.
“I really focused on my mindset a lot this year,” she said. “Focusing on my mind a couple minutes before the start really helped me out.”
The top three finishers were Warriors. Sisum had 54, while Ellie Pinkham placed third (47). Sofiya Slocik-Gritzner placed eighth (20).
Northampton’s Ellie Mahoney placed fourth (46).
Den Ouden was second overall in the boys standings with 50 points. Westfield’s Owen Freman edged him by one point for the win with 51.
Green took third (42), while Phineas Tuttman was eighth (23) and Wyatt Sisum ninth (16).
“We work really hard to get where we are. As a whole, it takes a lot,” Den Ouden said. “It takes a lot, so it’s nice to actually get repaid for the stuff we do.”
Keller Mahoney placed fourth for the Blue Devils with 42 points. Northampton’s Thomas Michaelson was sixth (32)
Hampshire Regional claimed the boys South team title with five racers in the top 10. Przybyla was first with 57 points. Zack Ames followed in third (47). Dawson Kelly took fifth (45), Jon Dunn eighth (24) and Evan Novak 10th (13).
“Having to put it down on the course, making the results happen, it just happened,” Przybyla said.
English finished sixth for the Dragons (28). His teammate Teddy Scott placed ninth (15).
The state championships will be held March 1 at Wachusett Mountain.
“We’ve got to keep pushing, you can’t stop now,” Kelly said. “This isn’t the end of it.”
“Gas frickin’ pedal,” Przybyla added.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.