Carson skiing set for season

It seems there's more enthusiasm this year with the Carson High boys and girls skiing teams.

First-year coach Adrienne Garbiel has noticed that her skiers are hitting the slopes more. As of Monday, her team has had four training sessions at Kirkwood, which she hopes gives her an advantage over the other Northern Nevada schools. Garbiel said

Kirkwood has been extremely accomodating to her team, which has allowed her squad to possibly receive more practices than other area schools. She said the resort is committed to furthering the cause of youth skiing.

But Garbiel has noticed something else when she goes skiing on the weekends. She noticed that many of her skiers are also hitting the slopes on the weekends, not just at practice when they have to. She said that hasn't always been the case in the past.

So Garbiel is confident she can continue the success established by longtime coach Jack Reinhardt, who retired as Carson's ski coach after last season.

"I think we have a really strong group this year," Garbiel said. "I'm really excited. We have a strong team."

Garbiel has 33 skiers in her program. Depth and experience won't be a problem with the boys as Garbiel has 23 skiers on the boys team.

With only 10 girls - just enough for a full team if Carson qualifies for the NIAA State Championships - Garbiel said it will be an obvious key for all her skiers on the girls team to stay healthy. "As long as we don't get hurt, we'll be OK," she said.

But there's plenty of experience and talent on the girls team as well. In recent years, Northern Nevada has been divided into three leagues with the teams from the Tahoe area joining the NIAA. That will be the case again this year with the Tahoe area schools and Douglas forming the Lake Tahoe League along with the High Desert League and the Sierra League. The top two teams from each league plus top individuals from nonqualifying teams will qualify for the State Championships scheduled for Feb. 23-24.

While Reno High will again be a formidable opponent in the Sierra League, Garbiel said she's confident that both her boys and girls teams can at least finish second and qualify for state.

But as expected, whoever qualifies from the Tahoe League should be tough to beat as those schools have P.E. skiing classes and their skiers log considerable time on the slopes.

"The schools at the lake are definitely going to be something to contend with," Garbiel said.

The consensus, though, is that the addition of the Tahoe schools has been good for the other schools as it has forced them to raise the level of their skiing.

For the boys, Carson's No. 1 skier, Spencer Brinson, returns. Other top skiers include Kurt Anderson, Cameron Childers, Clay Hollett, Andy Hook, Nik Marsh, Levi Masterson, Taylor Phillips, Andrew Richards, Evan Richards and Mike Weidemann.

Rounding out the girls team are Danielle Beasom, Nicole Carlevato, Katie Carlevato, Katie Carter, Krissie Gunn, Emma Kortemeier, Tina Midboe, Kasey Potter, Rebecca Robertson and Taylor Stokes.

Carson will find out where it stands when it begins the season next week. Carson will face Hug on Monday, North Valleys on Tuesday and Reno on Wednesday.