A lack of snow on their home hill didn’t keep the Loup Loup Alpine Ski Team off the slopes at other venues, where the local skiers have been going strong this season with races at Mt. Spokane and Mission Ridge in between practice days at Stevens Pass.
Last Saturday and Sunday, the team participated in the Apple Cup Invitational at Mission Ridge Ski Area, where snowmaking allows the area to stay open despite a lack of snow on the surrounding hills, said coach Aaron Studen.
Loup racers from the U8 to U14 age groups participated in the two-day Giant Slalom event. They included U8’s Damon Alumbaugh, Brayden Meyer and Gabby Studen, U10’s Avery Catlin, Macalla Chesledon, Elke Wathen, Olivia Glenn, Taylor Meyer, Carter Sheley and Graham Sheley, U12’s Eva Weymuller and Aidan Catlin, and U14’s Cailin Chandler, Ali Palm, Hanna Weymuller and William Jennings.
Studen, along with Ingrid Patterson, Bret Alumbaugh and Steve Nelson, served as coaches.
The next races on Thursday (Feb. 6) at Alpental will be for the older (U16) racers, Bergen Patterson and Claire Wallis. Both will compete in a night slalom race before a trip back to Mission Ridge for the Hampton Cup Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 8 – 9).
The Wolf Chase, the Loup team’s annual home race scheduled for this weekend, has been cancelled this year due to low snow conditions.
