PCSS hosts first FIS ski race at UOP

Utah Olympic Park's newly expanded ski runs now hosting international competitions. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — The Utah Olympic Park put on its first international ski competition utilizing the Super G, or Super Giant Slalom alpine run for the big event.

Australian athletes competed as did some representing Chili, Canada, and Great Britain. The event was hosted by Park City Ski and Snowboard Team (PCSS) and occurred the week of Feb. 16.

The UOP had held a RMISA race for collegiate athletes, which is not a NCAA though, however this was the first international FIS sanctioned race held on new expansion opened at the end of last season.

Local athletes can hardly call this home field advantage since it’s so new.

New not just for racers, but for visiting coaches and race officials. The out-of-state technical director said, unsolicitedly, to a UOP employee that this venue, as an addition to the existing locations around North America, is an amazing asset and an exciting, challenging, and fun addition to the circuit for all stakeholders. 

Many year-round, long time residents of the several neighborhoods in and around Kimball Junction have expressed that the nights when the new lights are on at the two expanded ski runs, it has a positive effect on the community at large as it makes that section of Park City feel like it’s own little ski town. 

Aksel Kitt from PCSS placed first for the men at 50.89, second went to Flaggart Winthrop of Washington State at .03 seconds back, and third went to Fransden Sumner of aspen at .19 back. PCSS’s Daniel Macuga got 5th.

In the other men’s race, Stephan Brennwald of Park City got first at 53.76, second went to Jackson Hole’s Matthias Wilson at .13 back, and third to sumner at .28 back.

Brooke Brown, in the women’s race got  third place from Salt Lake City’s High School, Romark Ski Academy at 1.57 seconds back. 

Julia Cunningham, from the West Coast, got second place at 1.34 back, and first place to went to Canadian Sara Stiel with a time of at 52.39.

In a make-up rescheduled race from a cancelled race Brown got second place at .21 back, Stiel won again at 53.43 and third went to Emma Powers from the East Coast the U.S. at .34 back.

This hill is open to only University of Utah, PCSS, Romark, and National Ability Center (NAC) training skiers, however, the public may ski on adjacent runs at the UOP in the Town Series.