Any way you count it, those eights will probably remain for a while after Saturday's 3rd annual Eight'n It Up at the Basin Figure 8 competition.

The majority of the eights were carved during the first round when 20 teams took their turns at 11,000 feet or better on the East Wall's North Pole Plunge.

The other 100 or so eights are up even higher, on Willy's steep chute at 12,000 feet or more, where the five finalists had to hike to finish off the day's event under azure skies on beautiful day above timberline.

Taking top honors were the Breckenridge duo of Scott King and Tom Riggins. Outfitted in brightly-colored attire that featured a particular and well known brand of beer, were the 18th of 20 starting tandems that cut a string of eights in the snow that featured a variation of conditions.

"It's not bad; a little tricky. It's a little crusty underneath, but it's definitely skiable," said Kerry Stanovsky of Breckenridge, who skied first - and without his partner, Dan Cohen.

"I'm hoping to get a second run," said Stanovsky, who didn't and watched 19 other teams make their attempt at qualifying for the finals.

Some scared up a lot of snow as they descended through shin-deep stuff. Along several places, small avalanches had sent splashes of snow downward.

"The snow was pretty good, but some teams had better snow than others," said Franz Fuchsberger of Vail, who teamed with Hayden Scott to finish fourth overall. "We didn't have the best snow (in the first round), but we made the best of it."

Scott and Fuchsberger, who recently finished second in the World Powder 8 Championships in British Columbia, said they've been practicing a style of skiing larger eights in a faster fashion.

"We ski a larger turn shape and leave a bigger eight," - Scott explained. "We ski dynamic, and we ski fast."

Although the powder eight competitors didn't seek prize money, there was merchandise and prestige to earn.

"This is a very important competition," remarked Fuchsberger, who said he and Scott ski about five figure-eight events per season.

"America is based on statistics," Fuchsberger said. "It's not the prize money you can win (that is the enticement). It's just placing and confirming the ability of your team."

"Hans and Franz" were after their third straight victory at the A-Basin 8s, having won two years ago "on our regular Atomic skis," Scott said. "Last year, we won on Atomic heli-guide skis, which are mid-width. This year, we're on Atomic powder cut skis, which are wider.

"We've got a full sponsorship from the Austrian factory now, and we're thinking about going to New Zealand in July or to St. Anton, Austria, next season.

"But when it comes to skiing," Scott said, "it's just who's the best skiers on the day."

It turned out, King and Riggins were, with Rick Ascher and Paul Krause of Breckenridge finishing second. Placing third were brothers Mike Saemisch of Salt Lake City and Todd Saemisch of Littleton. Scott and Fuchsberger finished fourth, and Roger Markel and Marl Thompson of Breckenridge finished fifth.

3rd annual Eight'n It Up at the Basin Figure 8s

ARAPAHOE BASIN - Results Saturday from the 3rd annual Eight'n it Up at the Basin Figure 8 contest on the East Wall. Listed are the five finailsts in order of finish and the rest of the field:

Final Five:
1. Scott King & Tom Riggins, Breckenridge.
2. Rick Ascher & Paul Krause, Breckenridge.
3. Mike Saemisch, Salt Lake City & Todd Saemisch, Littleton.
4. Hayden Scott & Franz Fuchsberger, Vail.
5. Roger Markel & Mark Thompson, Breckenridge.

Others in the Preliminary Round:
Fred Rumford & Robin Miller, James Grogemeyer & Randy Veeneman; Kerry Stanovsky & Dan Cohen; Dan Rosenthal & Rob Sprague; Tina Davis & Beny Byme; Mike Baumli & George Amenta; Christian Doran & Adam Garmen; Doug Werner & Tom Richardson; Chris Ward & Santana Alan Bernholtz & Dave Penney, Gary Fondi & Jason Michalowski; Wes Penrose & Frank Penrose; Michael Bartlen & John Spearling; Mike Kopicky & Kenny Buck; Bill Grable & Brad Pech.

Mike's Notes:

The day started out with light clouds but quickly turned to pure sun but not warm enough to make the snow wet. The lines for the preliminaries were at the far end of the East Wall with variable conditions. The early lines had more of a yet-to-thaw sun-bake on them. They appeared to be breakable crust. The first 2 teams did not fare well but the rest of the teams were able to handle the conditions. Our draw was number 13 of 20 and we were lucky with our line having hardly any sun-bake to it. It was lightly wind-blown but easily breakable.

Again, we were one of only a couple of teams with regular skis. We were the only team in the finals with regular skis. With the conditions we skied, I thought they would have made little difference unless you wanted to race down the pow.

Our preliminary run was a good run, we thought, but the competition was very tough again like the recent Colorado Powder 8 Championships. There was no telling if we made the finals until the judges had their vote. We had a couple of eights that were not as perfect as we would like because I hit some frozen chunks under the snow, but we did well enough to make the finals.

The steep hike to the finals had us all gawking at how good the snow looked. We were all going to have fun on the final run; no doubt about that! The competitors all get along and we passed the time talking and joking at the top of the hike waiting for the judges to set up. We skied fifth, on the far right as you looked up. The snow was perfect with no challenge to turn; about 10 inches of almost too-light snow. We did nice eights, we believed, with no serious mistakes that we could see. Looking back, I would have liked to have made bigger turns but it was still probably the best run we have ever had in competition.

We thought 3rd was about what we would get but had hoped for higher. The winners were a bit of a surprise to many of us. No one had picked them, but again, all of the tracks were nice and really could have gone any order. The view of the other skiers as you are waiting to go is not the best. So, it is hard to judge the quality of the skiing that the judges are seeing. The team that won had a great first run, possibly the best. Franz and Hayden made the usual huger-than-anyone-else turns but were off by having the sides of the turns not lined up between partners.

I hope some photographer captured the results of the finals on that chute. The eights and sun were a pretty impressive sight.

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