HASTINGS, Minn. – First year Gabe Lessard won the men's slalom on Saturday, as the St. Olaf College men's and women's alpine skiing teams competed in the United States Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) season opener last weekend at Afton Alps.

In his first collegiate race, Lessard won the first of two men's slalom competitions on the weekend with a two-run time of 1:11.08. After sitting fourth following the first run, the first year put down the top time (36.27) in the second run to vault to the top of the leaderboard.

Sophomore Nathan Girk, senior Ingrid Foslien and sophomore Julie Stagg also competed on Saturday. Foslien was 10th (1:20.49) on the women's side, while Girk was 15th (1:16.23) for the men. After being disqualified on the first run, Stagg posted a second-run time of 41.98 seconds.

On Sunday, the teams competed in another slalom race, with four member of the men's team placing in the top 10. Senior Alex Harris led the way in third (1:10.09) and was followed closely by junior Zach Slaviero in fourth (1:10.73) and junior Denver Link in fifth (1:11.15). First year Kaarl Damberg joined the trio in the top 10 in ninth (1:11.39).

Girk capped his weekend by placing 21st (1:16.19), sophomore Tor Nelson was 34th (1:21.38), and sophomore Sean Nolan took 39th (1:23.01). In the first run, juniors Marshall Quist and Luke Everson recorded times of 38.33 seconds and 40.77 seconds, but the pair did not finish the second run.

Foslien backed up her 10th-place finish on Saturday with a 13th-place showing on Sunday, finishing the two runs in 1:19.21. Stagg was 34th (1:32.00).

St. Olaf is back in action on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22, with a USSA race at Granite Peak in Wausua, Wis.