INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev.-Kevin Sheehan placed first in slalom at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Clifford Mann Classic at Mammoth Mountain, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The Eagles sophomore placed first in the two-run race, beating out Jamaican National team member and Truckee resident Errol Kerr, among others, by recording a combined two-run time of 1 minute, 16.38 seconds.

Coach Branko Zagar, who couldn’t make the race, said he was pleased with Sheehan’s performance, especially since he beat University of Nevada, Reno, standout Martin Harris.

“Kevin just ripped and skied pretty well,” Zagar said. “The conditions were tough, Mammoth got new snow and the second runs were really tough.”

Sheehan paced a few American-born SNC athletes in the USSSA race, including sophomore Gunnar Gottschalk, who joined him in the top 10 with a 1:21.89 finish, good for sixth place.

Sophomore Jonathan Cherry was the third SNC skier across the line with a 1:25.88 in 11th place.

Freshman skier and 2008 Incline High grad Daniel Hershkowitz placed 46th with a 1:34.87.

‘Peak’ conditions

The team doesn’t officially kick off its season until January, but the races are valuable for experience, Zagar said, considering the winter this far in Tahoe hasn’t seen much snow until Sunday and Monday of this week.

SNC will begin practicing next week at Diamond Peak, its official training mountain, after taking trips to Mammoth and more locally to Boreal Resort for practice.

“We’re not going to try to get in the way of pass-holders and all the craziness of the first couple of days,” Zagar said. “We may go to free ski there, but nothing official.”

Zagar said the team would resume training at Diamond Peak next week. He said the team trained last week at Boreal and is looking forward to training at other area mountains this week.

The team’s first full race is Jan. 4-7 in Park City, Utah.