It started out at Mad River Glen a balmy 25 degrees before the winds picked up, temps dropped 20 degrees and it started snowing heavily.
"Which we love but not so much for a ski race. The ability to stay focused and composed during these unfortunate conditions takes a lot of will," said coach Lisle Gilbert.
In the morning, everybody took two runs in the dual paneled slalom. The course was pulled down to the steep pitch and the start was set up there.
In the afternoon, the top 16 boys and girls ran them off "pro style," with each racing head to head, taking the time differential, switching courses and winner moving on to the next round.
Regardless of the adverse conditions, Harwood came out on top for both girls and boys, the coach said.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Girls: Meg O'Shea, 1st for the second week in a row; Kate McMann, 5th; Mercedes Woolley, 6th; Callie Anderson, 7th; Maddie Lowe, 8th; Ragan McMann, 11th; Maddie McGeorge, 12th; Piper Beilke, 14th; Lauren McMann, 15th; Isabella Harris, 19th; Fiona Smith, 21st; Anna Belongia, 22nd ; and Nina Brundage, 25th.
Boys: Austin Taylor, 2nd; Connor Woolley, 6th; Johnny Egan, 7th; Noah Williams, 8th; Matt Crowell, 9th; Alec McGlynn, 11th; Ian Groom, 15th; Connor Delaney, 25th; Liam Hall, 26th; Eugene Cleary, 29th; and Ben Friedman, DSQ in first run, 14th in second run.
Gilbert thanked Jim Komarmi and his staff as well as the volunteers and fellow coaches.
Next race is a two-day event at Smugglers' Notch combining boys and girls with giant slalom on Friday and slalom on Saturday, February 6 and 7.
