AUBURN – Maine Ski Challenge champions have been crowned following “Best of the Best” competition held at Lost Valley. Competing were finalists in races held throughout the 2004-2005 ski season at the following mountains: Lost Valley; Saddleback, Rangeley; Spruce Mountain, Jay; Black Mountain, Rumford. Sponsors for the Maine Ski Challenge are Pepsi Bottling Group, Sam’s Italian Shoppe and Sun Journal.

Each mountain held weekly races with 9 race divisions competing for weekly prizes. Top 3 finishers at each mountain received the following awards: first place, gold medal and a Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge shirt; second place, silver medal and Sam’s Italian Shoppe T-shirt; third place, bronze medal and a Mountain Dew head band.

Top 3 in each division at each mountain advanced to the “Best of Best” finals. Awards were given as follows: first, Mountain Dew Trophy, a 2005-2006 season pass to all 4 participating mountains; second, micro-fiber wind shirt from Sun Journal; third, wind shirt from Sam’s Italian Shoppe. Additionally, all winners received an invitation to the Regional Finals to be held April 2 at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, N.H.

Following were the leaders of the “Best of Best”:

Female: 6-Under: 1. Brooke Lever, LV; 2. Sydney Woods, BM; 3. Natalie Theriault, LV. 7-9: 1. Allarie Lever, LV; 2. Haley Grimmer, LV; 3. Olivia Grimmer, LV. 10-12: 1. India Bell, LV; 2. Shelby Moore, BM; 3. Kera Miller, BM. 13-14: 1. Hope Wilson, LV; 2. Jillian Bolduc, LV; 3. Kayla Brown, SM. 15-17: 1. Lindsey Dostie, LV; 2. Kelly Davis, LV; 3. Danielle Cyr, LV. 18-49: 1. Bekah McIntyre, LV; 2. Judy Dinan, LV; 3. Sue Dostie, LV.

Male: 6-Under: 1. Ethan Wilson, LV; 2. Conrad Grimmer, LV; 3. John Adley, BM. 7-9: 1. Brian Crane, LV; 2. Nick Papsadora, BM; 3. Alex Harford, SM. 10-12: 1. Willie Brown, SM; 2. Clark Chamberlin, LV; 3. Mitchell Grimmer, LV. 13-14: 1. Sam Armstrong, LV; 2. Nathan Woods, BM; 3. Spencer Hathaway, LV. 15-17: 1. Griffin Couture, SM; 2. Morgan Littleton, LV; 3. Ian Miller, BM. 18-49: 1. Ron Jacques, SM; 2. John Bolduc, LV; 3. Dave Brochu, LV. 50+: 1. Mike Rogers, LV; 2. Willie Gagnon, BM; 3. Tom Papsadora, BM.

Snowboard: 12-Under: 1. Sophia Goulet, LV; 2. Gage Clavet, LV; 3. Isaac Couture, BM. 13-Over: 1. Josh Greenleaf, LV; 2. Tyler Buck, SM; 3. Andrew Milligan, BM.