Eight of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s J2 skiers are at the J2 Nationals in Sugarloaf, Maine competing against the best of their age group in the country.

At the event are SSCV’s Paula Moltzan, Katharine Irwin, Celine Guilmineau, Julia Cooper, Anthony Romano, Colin Hayes, Alex Leever, and Nick Santaniello.

“The J2 Nationals are designed to get all the 15 and 16 years olds in the country together to see where everybody fits,” said coach Dan Stripp.

Well, on Friday, 3/4, SSCV’s Alex Leever took eighth in the men’s giant slalom after showing up at the start gate with number 42.  Leever is in the hunt to show where he fits in as he was the fastest skier for the Rocky/Central division, and, this is his first year in this age group.

“He’s psyched for sure,” said coach Gus Pernetz of Leever’s finish.  “This is good for Alex, as well as for the Rocky/Central Division.”  

With a steep hill, hard snow, and some technically challenging terrain, Leever took advantage of an earlier second run start.

“Leever executed well on his second run, which enabled him to move up through the field,” said Pernetz.