Congratulations to the 2023 Sugar Mountain Adult Race League Participants!

STORY BY HARLEY NEFE

Skiers and snowboarders were out on the slopes battling it out to be crowned champion, as the 2023 Sugar Mountain Adult Racing League’s 17th season officially came to its conclusion.

SMARL, which is co-sponsored by Ski Country Sports and Sugar Mountain Resort, is designed to bring together recreational skiers and snowboarders for weekly competition and camaraderie. The league is open to all skiers and snowboarders ages 21 years and older, offering an opportunity for folks to socialize and participate in a winter activity everyone enjoys. Athletes of all talent levels are invited to be involved.

Each team competed with six to eight racers, and the times of the top four finishers on each team counted towards the team score for racing nights. Each skier and snowboarder were given two runs down the slope, and their fastest time was the one that counted. Platinum was four points, gold was three, silver was two, and bronze was one. Points were then added up after each night to determine a league champion at the conclusion of the racing season.

Team Sugar took the final lead for ski teams with 118 points, earning the High Country Cup. Members of this team included Gunther Jochl, Sean McKee, Wesley Aldridge, Ross

McNeal, Erich Schmidinger, and Andrew Jochl.

Ski Country A came in at a close second with 113 points compiled by Carrie Smithey, Billy Leonard, David Orr, Clint Hendricks, Caila Leonard, Lawson Fields, Chris Leonard, and Matt Leonard.

For snowboarding, The Tavern won with a total of 107 over the six weeks of races. Teammates were Alex Broussard, J.P. Cogdill, Chris Austin, Sean Pepin, Matthew Herdklot, Erich Schmidinger, A.J. Dulan, and Adam Thompson.

Other teams who competed throughout the season included Banner Elk Cafe, and Good Ole Boys for skiing and Ski Country D and Skin Suits for snowboarding.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and a special thank you to all of the racers who participated in the 2023 SMARL season. Additionally, a shout out must be made for the race course crew and operators who were responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the courses throughout the season.

A lot of time and effort goes into SMARL each season from many different people to ensure races run smoothly, and it is much appreciated. Everyone is already looking forward to racing again soon! t