STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — This must be getting old for the rest of the state.
For the last four years the Summit High School girls’ ski team has found the top of the podium at the state meet.
And, on cue Thursday for the fifth year, a skier named Perkins paced the Summit team to open the state championships.
This time it was Briana Perkins, again following in the tracks of her sister Brittany. Briana picked up her third state title, winning Thursday’s 5-kilometer skate race at Howelsen Hill. Briana — who is the odds-on favorite in today’s classic event to again sweep the nordic races — blew past the competition Thursday, winning the 5K skate in 15 minutes, 15 seconds.
But for Briana, who won both events last year, it’s just part of the family legacy.
Brittany was a five-time cross-country state champ from 2004-06. Briana finished runner-up to Brittany in both races in 2006.
“We used to do backcountry skiing. Then there was winter sports at school and my sister and I chose to do nordic skiing,” said Briana, who moved to Colorado from Long Island when she was 3 years old. “I guess that’s how we fell in love with it.”
Although Briana won’t have a chance to match her sister’s five titles no matter the outcome of today’s race, she’s no doubt a big part of why the Tigers are in line for their fifth consecutive team title.
“They say, ‘If you want to be an Olympian, choose the right parents.’ There’s some truth to that,” Summit nordic coach Gene Dayton said. “Genetics certainly played a big role, but mostly I think it’s the spirit that Briana and Brittany have. They also have a great mental attitude.”
The Summit senior said she hopes to ski in college like Brittany — a sophomore at Western State — but will take a year off to travel and ski.
While Dayton said it will be different next year without a Perkinses in the lineup, the ideals and work ethic the sisters have left on the program will show for years.
“I guess we’re going to have Perkins withdrawal for a while,” Dayton said.
Tony Ryerson of Vail Mountain won the boys skate, while Summit’s Zack Fretz won the slalom. Jenny Banner of Battle Mountain won the girls slalom, just ahead of teammate Kelly VanHee.
