Anchorage Daily News

GIRDWOOD -- Depending on whom you asked during this weekend's World Telemark Championships in Girdwood, the conditions were "intimidating," "awesome" or -- and this is meant as a compliment -- "sick."

Indeed, Alyeska had its share of challenges as yet more snow arrived, creating conditions that prompted race organizers to move the competition to a more remote section of the mountain.

"These are probably some of the most amazing conditions I've skied in," said Bayden Hamilton, a 19-year-old from north of Calgary, Alberta. "There is so much that is above treeline and all of the exposed rocks. I was super excited about it."

Saturday's competition took place on the Shadows Headwall, a near-vertical drop within sight of the tram and the Glacier Express Cafe near the top of the mountain. Spectators could watch 74 competitors battle for a spot in the finals.

By the end of Sunday's skiing, Colorado skiers Megan Michelson of Boulder and Nick DeVore of Aspen walked away with the titles.

Amelia Hamilton, Bayden's 17-year-old sister, finished second in the junior women division. To her, the Headwall was "intimidating" at the top, but she managed to get through it.

She preferred Sunday's run, which was moved to the North Face of the mountain due to poor visibility.

"It was easier," she said. There's more range. I think I took the easy way out, but it wasn't bad."

Spectators weren't happy, though. The move cut the race off from easy viewing, and the only indication that a race was in progress was the occasional spotting of telemarkers wearing race bibs traveling up the tram for another run.

Some would-be race watchers rode the tram up and down the mountain, which offered a brief glimpse of skiers -- looking as small as ants -- as they made their way to the finish chute.

Eight women and 33 men qualified for Sunday's finals. Nine Alaskans -- six men and three women -- were among them, according to Alyeska spokesman Jason Lott.

Gwen Stosovloski of Girdwood finished fifth -- one spot behind fellow Girdwood skier Kelsey Vrem. Even though the course is in their backyard, it took place on a challenging part of the mountain generally closed to the public.

"Visibility isn't really good, either," Stosovloski said as she stood by the snack bar at the hotel while heavy snow fell outside. "It was big and cliffy."

The top Alaskan in the men's category was Jake Young of Anchorage, who was in fifth place going into Sunday's finals but slipped in the standings.

Spencer Jonas of Girdwood won the junior men's division with Peter Mamrol of Anchorage second.

Michelson of Boulder maintained her lead in Sunday's Superfinals, which consisted of the top five women and top 10 men duking it out. She was impressed by Alaska's terrain -- especially the technically challenging Headwall.

"It was a great venue," she said. "Today, the visibility makes it hard to see what's in front of you, but the fresh snow is great."

The World Telemark Championships were the showcase event for the mountainwide Jeff Nissman Telepalooza event going on all weekend at Alyeska. It celebrates telemark skiing and honors the memory of Nissman, an avid telemarker who died in 2004 in a freak accident when he was crushed by a slab of ice that slid off a building roof.

The mountain teemed with telemarkers who took advantage of free demos and participated in how-to clinics.

As the day progressed, heavier snow fell. The temperature hovered just above freezing, but at the top of the mountain it was still very winter-like.

Coming down the mountain with melted flakes covering his jacket and goggles, JT Robinson of Utah, a favorite going into the competition who ended up fifth, shook himself off like a wet dog. He grinned and looked up toward the North Face.

"This is the sickest venue I've skied in," he said. "In Utah, we ski open stuff and steep like this, but we don't get a lot of the terrain like this."

World Telemark Championships

Women

1) Megan Michelson, Boulder, Colo.; 2) Martha Burley, Fernie, B.C.; 3) Kate Cardamone, Aspen, Colo.; 4) Kelsey Vrem, Girdwood; 5) Gwen Stosovloski, Girdwood.

Men

1) Nick DeVore, Aspen, Colo.; 2) Dylan Crossman, Bethel, Vt.; 3) Jake Sakson, Carbondale, Colo.; 4) Bayden Hamilton Olds, Alberta; 5) JT Robinson, Fruit Heights, Utah.

Junior Women

1) Francesca Pavillard-Cain, Crested Butte, Colo.; 2) Amelia Hamilton, Olds, Alberta; 3) Rebecca Mamrol, Anchorage.

Junior Men

1) Spencer Jonas, Girdwood; 2) Peter Mamrol Anchorage.

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