Reid Lambres follows family footsteps

REID LAMBRES, undefeated in South I competition the past two seasons, leads the Bruin boys ski team into today's CNISSF state finals at Mt. Shasta. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

RESCUE — Ponderosa’s Reid Lambres participates in his final races today and tomorrow for the Bruins’ ski team at the California Nevada Interscholastic Ski and Snowboard State Championships at Mt. Shasta.

He’s one of the favorites.

This past season, Lambres was the one to beat in the South I Division though no one did. For the second straight year, the Ponderosa senior swept the alpine races — six in all — to grab the top spot on the boys all league ski team.

He outperformed a talented field, including teammates and younger brother Alec, to help Ponderosa to its sixth consecutive South I banner. With Reid out front, the Bruins’ have blunted El Dorado’s decades-long domination in boys ski.

Reid had a winning margin of 8.66 seconds in slalom races, 3.24 in the Giant Slalom. Despite the individual success, Reid takes bigger pride in overall team performance.

“Though skiing is very individual it’s fun to be in a team atmosphere,”  said Reid who also has competed for the Sierra and Northstar teams in addition to USSA Racing (Far West) and FIS competition. “Instead of everyone rushing it we try to finish as a team and not make it about that one person. Yes I’m No. 1 but I’m not going to risk anything and hurt the team.”

Reid’s roots in local skiing run deep. His parents tell him he was on skis at age two and a half; his dad, aunt and uncle all skied for the Bruins; and his grandparents were the original owners of the Hangtown Ski Hut — putting the family name squarely apart of the community and ski industry.

He began racing at an early age, enjoyed it and by the time he arrived at Ponderosa the Bruin boys ski team had turned the corner. He credits the coaches, including his dad Vince, a Ponderosa assistant, for cultivating a positive environment in which to compete.

“I started racing at about 10 (years old) and that started it for me though I didn’t get good at it until I was 13.” Reid said. “Fortunately Ponderosa had a ski team that was starting to pick it up. The coaches have been very supportive and there’s been really good leadership that’s made it easier for us athletes to go for it.

“Over the years our level of ability has increased to where we can keep up with everyone, be consistent and finish. It’s not just one (skier) in first and everyone last. Now we’re all bunched in the top 10.”

Reid has been All Division all four years and so far the team MVP the first three. At the state level, Reid was sixth All State as a freshman after taking fifth in the slalom; and fifth All State as a sophomore after taking fifth in the GS and seventh in the slalom. Last year, Reid was third in the slalom and solidly in second place in the GS before a crash two gates from the finish cost him a spot on the All State team.

“Something was wrong technically with my skiing and it just caught up and I couldn’t make a turn and blew out,” Reid said. “The guy in first had a sizeable lead and I was just trying to hold onto second.”

Reid has another shot in today’s GS when he leaves the gate. While he’ll try to win for himself he’ll also want victory for the team.

“I hope to do better than last year, finish and win the championship. I want first in both (races) but my main goal is for the team.”

Live results can be tracked at Live-Timing.com.

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Jerry Heinzer

Jerry Heinzer is going on 12 years as an employee of the Mountain Democrat and is currently the Sports Editor. Contact Jerry at 530-344-5074 or jheinzer@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @ JHeinzerMtDemo on Twitter.

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