November 23, 2012 (West Yellowstone, Montana) – Nothing about the start of the 2012/13 U.S. SuperTour was easy. Unseasonably warm temperatures tested the organizers to the limit at even pulling off the races. The competition course on the plateau itself, resting a little over a thousand feet above town, provided the challenge for the racers with long, relentless climbs that can only be found on a nine-kilometer point-to-point course.

With a course that offered little rest, that rewarded strong glide and high aerobic capacity, it might have been a bit surprising that two sea level athletes, Rosie Brennan (Alaska Pacific University; Anchorage, Alaska) and Matt Liebsch (Burton Volvo XC United; Orono, Minnesota) found their way to the top step of the victory stand today.

With social media messages like “Congrats  –  one step closer to Goal of Sochi…” or  “Norris (as in Chuck Norris, Matt’s moniker) to the World Cup!” one got the sense there was more than just pride on the startline today.

Sun Valley teammates Matt Gelso and Michael Sinnott raced their way to the other two steps of the men’s podium in the tightly contested race. Only 8.4 seconds, and $500 in prize money, separated the three skiers.

Andrew Doughtery of Denver University was the day’s quickest collegiate. He came in 5th, 32 seconds behind Mr. Liebsch’s time. Sawyer Kesselheim  of the Bridger Ski Foundation (Bozeman, Montana) and the Montana State Ski Team was the top junior racer, placing 12th, 48 seconds back of first.

On the women’s side, Sun Valley’s Chelsea Holmes came in second, while last spring’s NCAA champion Caitlin Patterson, now racing for the Craftsbury Green Team, placed third. Just six seconds separated the top three ladies.

Jessica Yeaton of Montana State University was the first collegiate athlete across the line in eighth, 1:15 off Brennan’s time. Cambria McDermott, also of Montna State University, was the top junior skier, placing 20th, 1:55 from the fastest time.

“It was quiet out there,” said 3rd place finisher Sinnott as he described the racing on a closed, one-way race course. “In some ways, the absence of fans helped to stay within the moment. There were a surprising number of coaches on course offering splits. The only major downside was that I had a difficult time reading where I was on the course. I thought there was one more climb…

“I’m happy to have another good start to the year, and feel my fitness is quite good at the moment. I had great skis to add to my effort, thanks to the tireless work of our tech team headed by Clark Sullivan. It’s a good start, but there is still work to be done.”

SuperTour action, and the three World Cup qualifying races begin again in Bozeman, Montana on Thursday, November 29th. On Saturday, a qualifer-only prologue is scheduled for West Yellowstone. Check back with SkiTrax tomorrow to catch the latest action and updates from these races.

Full unofficial results HERE.