Nolan Kasper Wins World Pro Ski Tour Championship At Sunday River
2018 US Olympian Nolan Kasper (Warren, Vermont) won the Visit Maine Pro Ski Championship at Sunday River on Saturday, defeating Slovakian Olympian Adam Zampa in the final for the $10,000 prize. Kasper also edged out Michael Ankeny (Wayzata, Minnesota) for the overall season championship for an additional $5,000.
"I feel amazing. I am so happy. This is a great event and we had great weather today. It's awesome that they brought the World Pro Ski Tour back. It's great for the racers and the fans, and a great recipe for success moving forward!" said Kasper.
In the Visit Maine Pro Ski Championship awards ceremony today at Sunday River, Maine, checks were presented to the top four ski racers. From left, Michael Ankeny of Wayzata, Minnesota; Nolan Kasper of Warren, Vermont; Adam Zampa of Slovakia and Jack Schibli of Charlotte, Vermont. Photo credit Sam Glaisher.
In warm and sunny conditions on the Monday Mourning Race Arena, 32 men and seven women competed in the dual slalom format. The Visit Maine Pro Ski Championships was the final race of three in the 2018 World Pro Ski Tour season, following the White Mountain Dual Challenge at Waterville Valley and the Rocky Mountain Pro Ski Classic at Snowmass, Colorado.
Adam Zampa competed on the World Pro Ski Tour for the first time at Sunday River. "The race was really enjoyable and I'm glad I made it over to Maine," said Zampa. "I was happy with the way that I skied against some tough competition, I'll definitely try to make it back next year!"
Top Four Competitors
1. Nolan Kasper, Warren, Vermont
2. Adam Zampa, Slovakia
3. Michael Ankeny, Wayzata, Minnesota
4. Jack Shibley, Charlotte, Vermont
In qualifying Mark Engel (Truckee, California) had the fastest time in qualifying Friday at the Visit Maine Pro Ski Championships at Sunday River, the final race of the 2018 World Pro Ski Tour season. He will be the top seed, followed by Carter Robertson (York, Maine), Michael Ankeny (Wayzata, Minnesota), and Adam Zampa (Vysoke Tatry, Slovakia). Ankeny trails 2018 US Olympian Nolan Kasper (Warren, Vermont) by one point in the overall season standings entering Saturday's finals, which start at 11 a.m.
Robertson, a senior on the Boston College Ski Team, had the surprise performance of the day under sunny skies on the Monday Mourning Race Arena at Sunday River. "I was really surprised to be so fast against such an incredible field of racers. I came in without any expectations, which allowed me to ski free and loose," Robertson remarked. "It's been a long season on the college circuit and it's amazing to be racing for money. I look forward to competing on the World Pro Ski Tour in the future."
Engel made his first appearance of the season on the World Pro Ski Tour after his first appearance in the Pyeongchang Olympics. "I had some trouble in the first run because the speed is higher than the events that I've been racing and the jumps were challenging. The field is full of really talented racers, so it feels good to be on top. Overall, I'm just happy to be back in the U.S. and racing the World Pro Ski Tour again," said Engel after the race.
For the first time on the World Pro Ski Tour, a women's division was held alongside the men's event. Foreste Peterson (Berkeley, California) of the Dartmouth Ski Team was the fastest qualifier out of the field of nine women. "It was awesome to have the opportunity to race thanks to the World Pro Ski Tour and Sunday River," said Peterson. "All of the women here are excited to see the tour grow in the future and be a part of it!"
The World Pro Ski Tour is an organization dedicated to promoting professional dual alpine ski racing. The tour is lead by the former president of the U.S. Pro Ski Tour, Ed Rogers of Bath, Maine; Craig Marshall of Portland, Maine; Kevin Clarke of Fryeburg, Maine; Barrett Stein of Tamarack, Idaho; and John Jacobs of Glens Falls, New York. The group looks to capitalize on the popularity of the dual format to maintain a full-season tour and offer opportunities for ski racers to earn a living while sharing the excitement of their sport with the public.
