Just like the old car rental slogan used to suggest, the Carson High School girls alpine ski team tries harder.
On Wednesday, however, the Senators remained undefeated on the season and proved they are legitimate contenders for the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) state title. They bested Reno in a Northern 4A conference dual meet, 87-68, on a day when racers were hindered by blizzard conditions at Slide Mountain.
The win was significant because Reno's girls have dominated Northern Nevada ski racing over the past two decades.
"If you look at the history of our league, Reno has won it every year except 1995, and that was the year we won," Carson coach Jack Reinhardt said.
"Out of the last 13 years, we've been second 11 times, so like Avis, we're trying harder," he added with a chuckle. "It's good to be No. 2, but it's better to be No. 1, so hopefully we can do it."
That issue will be decided Feb. 26-27, when the inaugural NIAA/U.S. Bank State Championships are contested at Slide Mountain, but right now, Carson looks like the leader of the girls pack.
"Our girls are really strong," Reinhardt said. "Reno and Galena are the two strongest schools, and we've beaten both of them now. I'm not making any predictions, but I'd say we've got a chance."
Carson's girls, who now boast a 7-0 season record, scored a sweep of the top three places in Wednesday's giant slalom race, with a half-second separating the trio. Kristin Foley won with a time of 23.6 seconds, followed by Jackie Nourse in 23.7 and Chelsea Anderson in 24.1.
Sara Field finished fifth in 25.2 and Kristen Jenkins seventh in 25.6 to round out Carson's team scoring. To show additional depth, Haley Zook finished 10th in 26.3 and Katie Bessette 11th in 26.9, putting seven Senators in front of Reno's No. 4 racer.
The weather was far from ideal.
"It snowed all day, so the visibility was very poor," Jack Reinhardt said. "You know we've been plagued by that all year. But then, that's ski racing."
On the boys side, Carson split in races against Reno and Rite of Passage. The Senators defeated Rite of Passage, 90-54, and lost to Reno, 81-70.
Aaron Reinhardt (20.1), Nick Reinhardt (20.6), David Crowell (21.7), Hunter Atherton (23.3) and Eric Marantette (23.4) gave Carson a sweep of the top five spots against Rite of Passage. Jay Kvam was seventh with a time of 23.7.
Aaron and Nick Reinhardt placed second and fourth, respectively, against Reno. David Pomeranz posted the fastest time of the day for the Huskies, a 19.3 clocking.
The Carson boys now have a 4-3 season record.
The Senators will conclude their regular Northern 4A season Friday with two races - 10 a.m. against McQueen and 1 p.m. against Wooster.