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Show Park City News Thursday, March 10, 1983 Page B5 (prospector P ATHLETIC CLUB Using new pro-style gates, skiers kick away from the start. photo byjill Snvder Pro-style starting gates bring new look to Town Races by Jeff Howrey Last Monday's town race found Bill Skinner winning his fourth pro class trophy in a rpw as, for the first time ever, racers in the pro, vet and A class received the benefit of starting gates. Until Monday's race, all town race heats were timed with a wand system. In other words, instead of the prostyle pro-style doors used to start races Monday, a passive light beam system was previously used to time racers. While the wand system which was activated ac-tivated when skiers left the top of the hill and broke the beam of light emanating from the wand, thereby starting star-ting the timing device was accurate, it had its drdwbaekD.- - " For one thing, racers were at their leisure, after being given clearance by the starter, star-ter, as to when to go. Even after being given a verbal command from the starter, racers could wait in the starting start-ing gate for a moment or even longer without jeopardizing jeopar-dizing their times. In recent races, some actually were letting their heat partner get one or two gates ahead before entering the course, apparently believing that having a skier running slightly ahead of them on the course provides great incentive incen-tive to run the gates at the fastest speed possible. But this flies directly in the face of the town race ethic of encouraging en-couraging head-to-head competition. Says race official Skinner of the newly-instittued starting start-ing door set-up, "When those doors open, the clock starts. If people want to wait around, that's fine, but the timer is running either way." "The starting doors add a lot 6f excitement to the race. It's great for everybody racing from the top of the hill (B's, C's and cross-country racers start their heats from the dogleg on Clementime and will continue to run under un-der the wand start system) to be able to get in behind the start doors like the pros do." Skinner points out that a different sort of start strategy is now possible. He notes that some pro class town racers are already using the "cocked pistol" approach whereby a racer leans way back on his skis right before the start doors open. The momentum picked up when the "cocked" skis his first town race trophy of the year after having beaten Skinner in competition sponsored spon-sored by Republic Airlines Sunday at the resort (see separate story). But such was not to be. With Roy out of the running on Monday it cleared the way for a virtual sweep of the pro division by Skinner and his teammates on Ski Services. Karl Jacobsen took second in the men's pro division with Arch Wright "When those doors open, the clock starts. If people want to wait around, MQtllMx MuUM timer is running. 99 are released carries a racer through the gate with an initial burst of speed. Skinner Skin-ner expects that the "cocked pistol" approach will soon pick up favor with many of the skiers, especially in the A class, who are now being exposed to pro-style starting doors for the first time ever. Skinner's certainly living proof of the method. Using his "cocked pistol" start, Skinner blew out of the gates in good fashion on both runs last week. Using the smooth, seemingly effortless style that has earned him the appropriate ap-propriate nickname, "Skins to Win," big Bill picked up speed nicely and executed his turns with precision. When the day was over, Skinner had won his fourth pro class town race in a row. He was helped by the fact that his perennial rival, Victor Vic-tor Roy (who had finished second in every race until Monday), hung a tip on the third gate of his first run and didn't finish the course. It was a disappointing turn of events for Roy, who seemed on the verge of taking home taking third, as Ski Services clinched the season team title two races before the end of the year. For Wright it was par- ..J awarding to finally crack the top three this season. A powerhouse local skier in years past with some impressive performances on the pro circuit cir-cuit under his belt as well Wright has not been quite as sharp this year. This, in part, can probably be attributed to the fact that Wright is studying full time at the University of Utah this winter, an activity which has cut into his training time considerably. In the women's pro division, two more Ski Service Ser-vice racers picked up important impor-tant points Karri Hays took second while Joan Skinner got third. First place in the women's pro division went to perennial peren-nial local stalwart, Roxanne Toly. Toly won the division only after being awarded a re-run in a controversial call. Toly was racing Salt Lake-based pro skier, Linda Davis, in a closet heat. While pushing Toly hard, Davis blew out of the course. Shortly Short-ly thereafter, Toly did the same. But race officials ruled she had been interfered inter-fered with. Toly re-ran the course and eventually squeaked out a victory over Hays. Hays continued to be a big winner in cross-country competition, taking first place among the women for the second race in a row. Julie Chamberlain and Jesse Whitmore took second and third, respectively. Brad Makoff, executing crisp telemark turns, handily han-dily won the men's crosscountry cross-country action. Downhill-style Downhill-style three-pinner Jacobsen, last race's winner, took second and Dee Wallace finished third. In the vet's downhill competition, com-petition, Tom Streit took first among the men with Bob Logefeil and Al LaMarre taking second and third. Karen Korfanta continued to dominate the women's action. ac-tion. Marit Glenne took second and Mary Cole, who recently became old enough to leave the B's and enter the vets picked up a third. In the A class, competition among the men was opened up a bit due to the recent bumping of past repeat winner win-ner Scott Siemon into the pros. With Siemon gone, Steve Reynolds took first followed by Roy Moyer and Biff Bennett. Among the women, familiar names Heidi Francis, Janie Hooker and Cindy Fish took first through third. Competition in the B and C class is still picking up steam as the town race season draws to a close. Times are improving and during Monday's competition, com-petition, most of the winners in the lower classes were decided by very narrow time margins. The men's B competition was won by Charlie Belissary and the women's trophy went to Kathleen PCHS to host top gymnasts The Park City High School gymnastic team opened its 1983 season last Thursday in a tri-meet with Union and Duchesne at Union High School in Roosevelt. Park City placed second in the meet with a total of 221.59 points. Union won the meet with 243.24 and Duchesne was a distant third with 70.36 points. Coach Kari Culp said that the meet caught the girls off guard and, although she was pleased with the team's performance, believes they can do better. "We have been practicing since January, every day, and it was hard to get motivated for our first meet. We did not have all the events filled and some of the girls did not have their routines ready," she said. Those who did have their routines ready did well, according to Culp. Anita Miles placed third in the compulsory floor exercise and first in the compulsory vault. Marlene Murnin was second in vault. Susie Miles was fourth in bars and Michele Harding placed second all-around for compulsory com-pulsory exercises. In the optional category Michelle McReynolds was third in the floor exercises. Michelle Black, Cindy Thaller Thal-ler and Suzy Clark finished fourth in floor exercise, beam, and vault, respectively. respective-ly. Clark also, placed second in bars. The team is large this year with 15 members, Culp said. Also participating are Wendy Blackborn, Lisa Boeck, Christina Carry, Suzy Clarry, Jillbette Fletcher, Chris Ruzicka, and Holly Scott. According to Culp, the team is well rounded, with five gymnasts in each event and strength especially in the floor exfrcisi-v The Miners will be tested this Thursday when they host Lehi and Union at Park City High School. Union and Lehi finished first and second, respectively, in the joint 1A-2A state tournament last year. Park City finished third. Culp expects the scores to be very close at the meet, which begins at 1 : 30 p.m. At home, March J 6 Park City will again face Union and Duchesne. Park City will then go to Union on April 5 for the final meet before state on April 16. Now is the time for a spring tune-up MINER AUTO 1490Munchkin Rd. Park City 649-1561 Witham. The men's C winner was Tom Mitchell and Kathy Rogers was the women's winner. For more complete results, see Scoreboard this section. at (prospector gquare 649 6670 Join the Best for $25 downl That's Right -Prorate your Initiation Fee over 6 months ij you like and begin your Spring uvrkout program Today'.'. Come in for more details and tour of Park City's finest Athletic Club!!! St. Patrick's Day Classic Racquetball Tourney March 17, 18, 19 Entry deadline March 16, 9 p.m. Entry Fees: $10 members $15 nonmembers, includes 2 hours free court time (during non prime time) Prizes galore, vshirts, green beer Entry forms available at Prospector Athletic Club j 'Ti 7v"v Iff fi3r r""' " -i -Xl v ' I it 1 ;ftp.y.yjy,.-...y... ................ -. . :;.:.:.r:-:.v.v.v i i V ! 1 I i ill i. i SILVER KING The Silver King... Distinguished Condominiums, priced from $170,000 to $600,000. 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