Robert Mahre takes part in the Sun Cup en route to a victory in the super-G on Tuesday at Mount Bachelor.

MOUNT BACHELOR – Although it might have been more aptly described as the 2007 Snow Cup, the games would go on.

Central Oregon skiers blasted through Tuesday’s windy and snowy conditions on Mount Bachelor to take several top-10 spots – including first and second place for women – in super-G competition during the opening day of the 2007 Sun Cup alpine event.

Jetta Rackleff, racing for the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation based in Bend, emerged from the blowing snow as girls champion in 1 minute, 21.95 seconds. Robert Mahre of White Pass Ski Club in Washington was crowned boys champion, in 1:19.53.

”The conditions were slow, but I felt strong,” noted Rackleff, 15. ”I really like the super-G so I wanted to go out for No. 1. (Before racing) I tell myself to ‘go fast,’ and I pray I don’t die when I go out of the gate.”

Mahre, 19, said he reminded himself that the conditions would be the same for everyone, so rather than focus on Tuesday’s deep snow and poor visibility, he was busy thinking of the fastest way to ski in the given limitations.

”You have to keep your mind on racing rather than on the weather,” said Mahre. ”I messed up a few times, but overall it was solid. I knew I had a chance at winning so I just went for it. My coach always says, ‘Don’t try. Just do.’ ”

The annual Pacific Northwest Ski Association event, staged on Bachelor’s Cliffhanger run, is open to all U.S. Ski Association-licensed downhill skiers age 13 and older. The first race, a super-G, drew nearly 100 female racers and about 130 male competitors primarily from Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Other top-tier skiers on Tuesday were MBSEF’s Ciera Glenn, second among women in 1:22.51, and Carmen Winquist of Crystal Mountain Alpine Club (CMAC) in Washington with a time of 1:22.55. For the men, Ross Wardrop of the Meadows Race Team based near Mount Hood posted a second-place finish in 1:19.88, and Eric Poore of CMAC claimed the third-place spot by clocking a time of 1:19.91.

Glenn, 18, noted that she had been on the road traveling to other alpine races for several days prior to the start of the Sun Cup.

”It would have been cool to win today,” said Glenn, ”but I’m definitely worn out.”

Due to such a heavy racing schedule, Glenn, like many young racers competing in the Sun Cup, has missed numerous days of school this winter.

”It’s worth it, though,” said Glenn. ”You just have to be dedicated in order to concentrate on skiing and school at the same time.”

Other top-10 MBSEF racers on Tuesday were, in the boys competition, Anton Hilts in seventh place, followed by Chadd Tullis in eighth and Kevin Prodehl in ninth.

”I don’t think anyone felt awesome today,” said Tullis, 17. ”There was a lot of snow on the course, and the wind was blowing so bad it blew the snow over the tracks other skiers had cleared before you got to go.

”(Today’s race) definitely didn’t show your true ability,” added Tullis. ”It was kind of the luck of the draw.”

A number of other racers described the course itself as ”fairly easy,” though they noted that it may have been more difficult on a faster snow day.

Several of MBSEF’s top skiers did not compete on Tuesday because they were attending school, while others will not race in the following days of the Sun Cup as they will be traveling to other alpine ski races, according to a few of Tuesday’s top competitors. Additionally, two of MBSEF’s top male skiers either did not start or did not finish Tuesday’s super-G.

The second day of super-G racing will begin at 10 a.m. today at Mount Bachelor’s Junior Race Center. Downhill racing is slated for Saturday and Sunday – or Sunday and Monday, depending on the weather – beginning at 10 a.m. at the JRC.

For more results from Tuesday’s race, see Sports Scoreboard