This past weekend marked the first race of the 2010-2011 season that did not involve pouring rain, epic conditions and howling winds and therefore saw the first race coverage from HRT News Team and the first real test for many of HURTs finest. New acquisitions from Western and Central NY came out to clash with a massive field of from the Tug area and points west. While there were a number of stories from the day (including domination of the Men's M8 field by Roger Henry and the Women's M9 field by Joan Henry...it was never even close) and the multiple first place age group victories by HURT teammates (the pies never had a chance) the story of the day has to be the impending clash between the two three headed monsters that polarize NYS.
On one side (The East) you have the trio-of-terror Brian Halligan, Austin Huneck and Adam Luban who RIPPED up the J2 field in a way seldom seen in HS racing. The boys went 1-2-4 and was only missed the trifecta by a slim 15 second margin. Western skiers were thankful by the young Douglas boy who was able to "jack himself up" to the base of J2 podium preventing the HURT sweep.
The West saw (yet again) the SR men flex their nordic muscle. The powerhouse trio of Hettenbaugh, Day and Maynard took all three spots on the SR podium and it was only with a well timed boot slide that HURT's Kvam was able to share the 3rd spot with the mighty Maynard. The SR men's race looks to be a drama filled arena as places 3-5 were separated by a mere 3 seconds. As the conditions improve, the race season gets further along and the field gets deeper (including the absent but never-out-of-mind Evil Empire) look for more of this drama to unfold.
Check out HRT Newsroom coverage here
Great closing shot on HRTV
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