Second Team honors on the final day of USCSA Nationals
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Noah Bindas and Reed Heathman of the NMU alpine ski team earned second-team All-America honors in the slalom on the final day of individual competition at USCSA Nationals.
Bindas, a freshman, finished eighth overall at 1:33.19 thanks to a scorching second-run time of 45.46, the seventh-fastest run two time. Heathman, a senior in his final nationals, earned the first All-America honor in his collegiate career, finishing 14th at 1:34.32.
Anthony Petkov rounded out the team scoring, finishing 32nd with his time of 1:40.06. As a team, the ‘Cats would finish in fifth of 25 teams once again, earning the men’s team an overall fifth place finish on the week.
Kyan Hopke hit a rut halfway through his first run, and Cashton Jaeger broke a binding at the bottom of his first run, both taking unfortunate DNFs.
Rocky Mountain College won the team event, followed by Babson and Vermont State. Will Patton of Hobart and William Smith as crowned national champion, as he posted the first-fastest results in both runs en route to a 1:30.00.
The final event of of USCSA Nationals is the dual slalom, where both a male and female athlete will pair up and compete against the field. Action begins at 9:15 a.m. ET, and can be watched for free at the USCSA YouTube page.
Run One
Hopke’s day was done early, as he caught a rut just a handful of gates after the starting shack and straddled a skied off.
Bindas came down at 47.73 in a confident first run; a mark at the time of finishing was the ninth fastest among the field.
Heathman posted a very solid run in his first result, a 47.59 to give NMU its fastest time in the opening run of the day.
Jaeger had a solid run going until an unfortunate mishap at the bottom of the course with only a few gates remaining. The freshman’s ski binding broke, causing him to ski off and take a DNF with just a handful of gates remaining.
Heathman led the ‘Cats in run one, posting a first result time of 47.59 to finish in 13th heading into the final run.
Petkov was the final NMU skier to take the slopes, posting a 51.83, the 39th quickest time at the point of finishing.
Run Two
Bindas posted a blistering second run time, posting a 45.46 to take a lead on the field at the time of the finish.
Heathman added a solid run for himself to round out his individual weekend, adding a 46.73.
Petkov posted a solid second run, as his 48.23 brought him to 30th overall at the time.
