EAST BURKE, Vt. -- The University of Denver women wrapped up a competitive Nor-Am series at Burke Mountain on Saturday (Jan. 4), kicking off the New Year with two days of giant slalom racing, and one day of slalom.
 
The top performer for the week was once again senior Andrea Komsic. Following a strong week at the Nakiska Nor-Ams, (where Komsic never finished off the podium), the 23-year-old was hungry to prove that her GS times in Nakiska were not a fluke. Although her specialty is in the slalom, Komsic once again found the podium in the Burke GS, finishing in third on the first day of racing. On her second day of GS, Komsic fell a bit farther back in the results, overall finishing in fifth.
 
"It was a very icy surface, the European kind of ice," said Komsic. "This gave a chance to everyone to lay down a good run. It was very challenging because it wasn't as smooth as it usually is in Colorado, so whoever has the courage to down that pitch attacking the whole way wins."
 
The Netherlands World Cup regular, Adriana Jelinkova, laid down a time that was untouchable on day one, and followed up her win with yet another solid time on day two, sweeping both days of the GS. 
 
"We definitely had a rough time with Adriana here because she showed us some really aggressive skiing on that icy pitch," Komsic added. "Overall I had good sections and sections that needed some improvements. I'm not quite satisfied with how far out I was but I guess that's all part of ski racing and there's always time and space for improvements."
 
In the slalom race on Saturday, Komsic just missed the podium, 0.23 seconds behind the American independent racer and World Cup veteran, Resi Stiegler. Komsic had been set to run fifth but was interrupted on course due to some problems on the lower part of the hill, and was forced to circle back to the start to redo her run. She then started in 17th, putting her at a slight disadvantage as the course had already been skied out by many of the top racers in the Nor-Am competition. Given the tricky conditions, late start, and battling a few issues with her knee, Komsic was happy with her result. 
 
"Adrenaline usually kicks in so I didn't think much about [my knee] while I was skiing," reported Komsic. "Overall, another decent Nor-Am series behind me. It was a weird day, and my knee hurts quite a lot, so I'm excited to spend some time in Denver." 
 
After gathering some more solid finishes, Komsic is now ranked second in the overall Nor-Am standings, second in the Nor-Am slalom standings, and third in the Nor-Am GS standings.
 
Her teammate, Storm Klomhaus also had a solid finish on the first day of GS. A ninth-place finish for Klomhaus keeps her within the top-10 overall rankings of the Nor-Am Cup.
 
Katie Hensien also started in the Burke Nor-Am series, but struggled a bit, and did not finish her first run all three days. After falling and hitting both her head and her hip, Hensien continued to fight to earn some more Nor-Am points but fell short in her efforts. The 20-year-old U.S. Ski Team athlete remains ranked seventh in slalom, just behind her teammate Amelia Smart, currently ranked sixth.
 
Next the Pioneers will compete in their first NCAA races of the season at the Denver Invitational to be hosted in Aspen from January 10th to the 13th.
 
Official Results
January 2nd, 2020 Giant Slalom

1. Adriana Jelinkova (NED): 2:01.36
2. Mikaela Tommy (CAN): +2.75
3. Andrea Komsic (CRO): +2.89
4. Patricia Mangan (USA): +3.78
5. Marina Vilanova (CAN): +4.50
6. Stefanie Fleckenstein (CAN): +5.27
7. Madison Hoffman (AUS): +5.58
8. Claire Thomas (USA): +5.96
9. Storm Klomhaus (USA): +5.98
10. Cassidy Gray (CAN): +6.07

Katie Hensien did not finish her first run.
 
January 3rd, 2020 Giant Slalom

1. Adriana Jelinkova (NED): 2:09.29
2. Mikaela Tommy (CAN): +0.37
3. Nina O'Brien (USA): +0.91
4. Keely Cashman (USA): +1.29
5. Andrea Komsic (CRO): +1.61
6. Madison Hoffman (AUS): +1.98
7. Marina Vilanova (CAN): +2.15
8. Patricia Mangan (USA): +2.26
9. Foreste Peterson (USA): +2.44
10. Stefanie Fleckenstein (CAN): +2.50

Katie Hensien did not finish her first run. Storm Klomhaus did not start the first run. 
 
January 4th, 2020 Slalom

1. Nina O'Brien (USA): 1:59.92
2. Adriana Jelinkova (NED): +0.10
3. Resi Stiegler (USA): +0.19
4. Andrea Komsic (CRO): +0.42
5. Keely Cashman (USA): +1.01
6. Lila Lapanja (USA): +1.10
7. Stephanie Currie (CAN): +1.23
8. Marina Vilanova (CAN): +2.49
9. Patricia Mangan (USA): +2.53
10. Zoe Zimmermann (USA): +2.71

Katie Hensien did not finish her first run.
 
Highlights
 

• Komsic is now ranked second in the overall Nor-Am standings, second in the Nor-Am slalom standings, and third in the Nor-Am giant slalom standings. 
• Komsic earned her fifth Nor-Am podium of the season, finishing third in GS on January 2nd.
• Klomhous earned another top-10, finishing ninth in GS on January 2nd.

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