The WOO Cleanup Crew

DAYTON - The WOO Crew, a racing team competing under the Inland Northwest series of the United States of America Snowboard Association, had several members clean up the competition on February 13 at Whitefish Mountain, Montana. This was the team's fourth competition of 2011.

Sarah Koehler, 23, of Cheney, and BreAnna Morgan, 18, of Kennewick, easily won their respective age groups, women's Open Class Skier and Women's 16-18. Both women qualify for USASA National races held at Copper Mountain, Colorado, this April 10-16.

Jaymin Morgan a snowboarder from Kennewick in the Breaker boy's 14-15 age group, competed in a physical race. In his first heat, Morgan hit a gate after being unintentionally pushed. The course referee called no foul. Nor was a foul called during the second heat when a Morgan and a competitor cleared a jump at the same time.

The other snowboarder landed on Morgan's back and advanced enough to take the lead. Several spectators witnessed the infraction, but again no foul. Morgan finished sixth overall in a tough age group.

Alex Naylor of Dayton skied to a first-place finish in the Men's 16-18 age group, after three hard-fought heats. Initially, Naylor was off to a fast start, but Jeffrey Meyer, a 17-year-old nearly 6 feet tall from Kalispell, Mont., caught him five gates from the finish line, winning the first heat. A skier from Sandpoint finished third.

In the second heat, Naylor regrouped, blasted out of the start and cleanly defeated his competitors. The final heat included just two racers for the tiebreaker, and Naylor again flew out of the start and held off Meyer to win the race.

Blake Morasche of Walla Walla improved his racing during this week, taking second place behind Troy Cecie of Nine Mile, near Spokane, in the Men's 13-15 age group. Many competitors in this age group make for spirited competition. These two boys have also developed a strong friendship, spending many prerace hours practicing their ski cross skills, jumps, bumps, in variable snow conditions and fun just plain racing.

This weekend the Woo Crew travels to 49 Degrees North for the final competition and point-earning opportunity before the USASA Nationals in Colorado.

The Woo Crew is coached by Nick Morgan, of Kennewick who also serves as the race director for the Inland Northwest series of USASA. The team is sponsored by Koehler Construction, Issacs & Associates and Patrick Lumber Company.