PUNCHIN THROUGH POWDER: SAAB SALOMON CROSSMAX SERIES SKIERCROSS IN CRESTED BUTTE

Eric Archer and Anik Demers top the podium.

With speeds reaching up to 60 m.p.h., despite the eight inches of new snow on the 2,200-foot long, 1,000 vertical foot course, competitors in the 7th annual Salomon Crossmax Skiercross traded p-tex instead of paint.  Eric Archer of Vail swooped and flew his way into first place of the men's adult division. Archer placed 8th in last year's competition.   

For the women, Anik Demers of Squaw Valley, California, battled it out with Brett Buckles of Boulder for a first place finish.  Demers, steadily improving on her finishes at the Salomon Crossmax, topped her 3rd place finish from last year's event. "I knew Brett could ski really fast but I had the starts on her," she says.

Three-time defending champion, Ryan McCullough, formerly of Crested Butte and now residing in Lakewood, Colorado, fell to 4th place in the men's division.  Not discouraged, however, he says, "I have so much fun doing this.  I got my competitive edge out playing football.  Now, it seems that when I have fun, I go fast."

Scott McBrayer of Carbondale, Colorado skied into first place in the junior men's division, while local Crested Butte Academy students Didrik Eilert-Olsen and Asher Crank came in 2nd and 4th respectively.  Junior placers from 1st to 4th draw from a purse of $425 for their athletic achievements in the race.

Clearing blue skies towards the end of the day following a healthy dose of white gold promises perfect conditions for tomorrow's start of the 14th Annual SAAB U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships.  With the lure of soft landings, crowds will surely be awed by big air and fierce competition as Big Mountain athletes seek to qualify on the legendary Headwall, boasting a 650-foot vertical drop over a 43-degree average slope. 

WENDY FISHER TO COMPETE IN U.S. EXTREMES

Veteran freeskier Wendy Fisher is expected to compete in the U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships over the weekend. It will be the film star and multi-event freeskiing champion's first event since the 2001 Red Bull Snowthrill of Alaska. Though crowned World Extreme Skiing Champion multiple times, Fisher has never won her hometown event.

Log on to www.skicb.com and click on Extreme Scene for more info on these events and other special events taking place on the mountain this season.

SKIERCROSS RESULTS

WOMEN
1. Anik Demers, Squaw Valley, CA
2. Brett Buckles, Steamboat, CA
3. Katie Shackleford, Park City, UT
4. Jess McMillan, Jackson Hole, Wy

MEN
1. Eric Archer, Vail, Co
2. Cody Smith, Spokane, WA
3. Tyler Shepard, Boulder, CO
4. Ryan McCullough, Crested Butte, CO
5. Justin Glick, Aspen, CO
6. Josh Bryan, Steamboat Springs, CO
7. Jesse Durrance, Boulder, CO
8. Pat Duran, Steamboat Springs,