VANCOUVER – After last weekend's race at Mission Ridge in Washington, the UBC Thunderbirds women's alpine skiing team is ranked first in the Northwest USCSA conference, while men are a close second in their standings.

The women's team dominated both race days at Mission Ridge, winning by a commanding 19 second margin on Saturday and by seven seconds on Sunday.

The men's squad placed second on Saturday behind Whitman College and then won Sunday's race, finishing four second ahead of Whitman. On Sunday, T-Birds Matt Bunston and Alexander Matheson took first and third place respectively.

Emma Beattie, who has won a number of races so far this season, and Bunston are individually ranked number one in the women's and men's fields respectively.

Alpine ski team members have recently been recognized as athletes of the week by the Thunderbird Athletic Council. Beattie was athlete of the week of February 1 and this past week, the men's team was featured on the back cover of the Ubyssey as athletes of the week. Emma has also been elected as athlete of the month of January.

The T-Birds will look to carry over their early season success to the Regional Championships which are scheduled for February 18-20 at Snowbasin in Ogden, Utah. The teams will be competing against a larger field of skiers all vying for one of the four spots at nationals.

USCSA nationals will be held in Sunday River, Maine the week of March 1.