By Charles Ix
Over a hundred men and women ski racers gathered on a cold morning Jan. 23 to see who would be the fastest racer down a very difficult and technical course at Wintergreen resort. The race consisted of two runs, and combining the times of each run produced a winner in each age division.
In a sport where the difference between first and second place can be determined by 1/100s of a second, three local racers won their respective divisions at the USSA-sanctioned giant slalom race.
Maddy Ix, a seventh grader at Henley Middle School, won the J3 girls division by 9/100s of a second. She finished fifth overall out of 50 women starters from Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.
Helen Given, a freshman at Western Albemarle High School, finished in sixth place in the J3 division.
Michael Given, a junior at St. Anne’s-Belfield, won the Men’s J2 division by almost a full 2 seconds. He also finished third overall out of the 55 men racers.
Michael’s brother A.J., a fifth grader at Murray Elementary, won the J5 division and finished eleventh overall. All four racers are on the Wintergreen Race team.
