The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Outlaws boys took second overall, and Bela Chladek notched first place in a ski race at Mount Hood Meadows last weekend.

The Outlaw ski team traveled to Mount Hood Meadows on Saturday, January 7, to kick off the ski racing season at the annual Kelsey’s Race. The Kelsey’s Race is the largest high school ski race in the nation, with more than 500 racers registered for the event this year.

Sisters boys team took second place in the event with a combined team time of 1:12.14, coming in just behind Lincoln High School, who finished first with a combined time of 1:11.88. Outlaws’ skier Bela Chladek was the overall boys first-place winner. Other Outlaws supporting the boys varsity team finish were Corbin Fredland and Styopa Myagkov.

The Lady Outlaws finished fifth as a team with a combined time of 1:17.30, just behind Lake Oswego, who finished fourth with a combined time of 1:17.77. The girls missed the third- place spot on the podium by just over a second. Leading the Lady Outlaws was sophomore Tallis Grummer with supporting varsity times from Presley Adult, Charlotte Seymour, Ella Eby, Araiya Grummer, and Ava Riehle.

The race included a team costume contest, in which the Outlaws boys and girls teams combined took third place.

The Outlaws brought 30 racers to the event and, according to Coach Gabe Chladek, they all were impressive on the slopes. Chladek added that the event was an exciting way for the team to kick off the competition season.

Chladek, along with assistant coaches Rima Givot and Natalie Grummer, was impressed with the team’s performance and told The Nugget it will be exciting to watch the competitive team throughout the season.

Chladek said, “This team of over 30 racers is bonding and supporting each other as the season gets started.”

The Outlaws Alpine Ski Team’s next race is a giant slalom at Hoodoo Ski Area on Wednesday, January 18.