SOL | FIS Championship in Chile

FIS Championship in Chile
by Kathleen Casey
(July 16, 1997)

The latest FIS Championship for South America was a Giant Slalom event at Valle Nevado. A crucial race for the Chilean team as points were to be earned for the Chilean Olympic Trails. The next and final FIS race in South America will be another Giant Slalom at Valle Nevado on the third weekend in August.

Cloudy conditions, flat light, and 20 centmeters of new snow were on the 202 meter, 28 gate course of Valle Nevado's Tango run. The finish line sported very few spectators even though there were cases of free brew thanks to the sponsor Copa Cristal, Chile's leading beer.

Diego Uranga of Chile claimed first place after his record breaking run of 00:56:30, following his preliminary run of 60.01 (total time 116:31), earning him 100 points for the FIS standings. Team member Matias Doren followed closely behind with a combined time of 116:51 and 80 points. Regretably for the Chileans, third and fourth place went to the Japanese, as Kei Iida finished with a time of 117:80, 60 points, and Hisayuki Kojima with 120:44 and 50 points. Claudio Martinez, a Chilean, took fifth with a time of 122:91.

The Women's GS event was not for FIS points, as there were only four women competing and a minimum of five registered racers are required. American June Atkinson had entered the day before, making a total of five women, but was not allowed to race at the last minute due to not being affiliated with the USSA.

Elenor Reddy of Ireland took first place with a total time of 142:90, Isabel Ribeiro of Brasil took second with 143:97, Soledad Wienecke of Chile took third with 164:56, and Gabriela Maciel took fourth with 236:56.