Colfax's Martel flashes to giant slalom ski win

Two-time All-State ski performer Karina Martel of Colfax High showed that she's still at the top of her game Tuesday in the California-Nevada Interscholastic Ski & Snowboard Federation giant slalom racing held at Alpine Meadows. Martel, a state champion in 2018 who also is a member of Colfax's girls soccer team, won Tuesday's competition with a time of 1 minute, 9.66 seconds to outdistance second-place finishing Helen Farrar of Davis (1:16.77). The win was Martel's second of the season. Other top local area girls finishers Tuesday included Placer's Sophia Hodgdon, who was fifth (1:20.15) and Colfax's Miracle Wooten (1:26.62), who placed 13th. Also finishing well were Macy Maddox of Placer, who was 17th (1:33.23) and Chole Bigley of Colfax, who took 18th (1:35.64). In boys racing, Colfax's Gary Thomas placed ninth in 1:18.44 while Ben Ferguson grabbed 13th in 1:21.97. Placer's Luca Collins was 16th in 1:23.82. Tough conditions hamper snowboarders Wind-whipped snow made conditions tough for CNISSF snowboard racers Tuesday at Boreal Ridge in the third race of the Central II season. Hampered by a fall on his second run, defending state boys champion Tyler Suddjian of Colfax had to settle for a 10th-place finish (1:28.21). Top area finishers for the boys included Placer's Miles Blackman (7th, 1:23.25) and Colfax's Nathan Franscella (8th, 1:23.65). Caleb Howard of Colfax was 12th (1:28.95) and Placer's Nick Madison 13th (1:29.38). Connor Braica of Placer grabbed 14th (1:29.89) while Colfax's Garrett Arcand (1:32.17) placed 15th. In the girls race, North Tahoe's Nina Burt (1:12.05) nipped Truckee's Morgan Just (1:12.11) for top honors. Colfax's Faith Mora (1:15.55) placed third and Placer's Kayla Sipherd (1:24.20) sixth. Other top finishers included Colfax's Chloe Qualls (7th, 1:27.65), Placer's Sophia Nunez (8th, 1:27.91) and Colfax's Kailee Moore (11th, 1:39.71) and Lauren Conway (15th, 1:42.58).