There have been two races so far this season for the Ridge High School ski team, and at the first, the Giant Slalom festival on Jan. 5, the girls placed first and the boys placed fourth among 19 New Jersey schools.

On Wednesday, the varsity girls placed third and the boys placed second in an Independence League Giant Slalom race that included Varsity, JV and X Men with seven schools, including 30 girls and 42 boys participating, according to information from the Ridge Ski Team.

The 44 member team is looking for great success this year and is coached by John Fico, John Brum and this season welcomes new assistant coach Jeff Pedecine.

Both races were held at Mt. Peter Ski area in Warwick, N.Y. In the first, 66 girls and 89 boys participated.

The results from Jan. 5 were:

Girls, first place: Individual placements: Alyssa Thompson (6), Maddie Kapp (8), Courtney Lailey (11), Sandy Halbing (15), Nora Smith (17), and Gina Taylor (25).

Boys, fourth place: Individual placements: Daniele Colbertaldo (2), Alex Thompson (12), Thomas McWilliams (21), Luke Hull (29), and Patrick McGeough (37).

The results from Jan. 9 are:

Varsity girls, third place: Individual placements, Maddie Kapp (5), Sandy Halbing (7), Alyssa Thompson (9), Courtney Lailey (10), and Nora Smith (16).

Varsity boys, second place: Individual placements, Daniele Colbertaldo (3), Alex Thompson (6), Adam Walker (15), Patrick McGeough (17), Luke Hull (20) and Thomas McWilliams (33).

JV girls, first place: Individual placements, Alexa Hughes (1), Nancy Bellai (2), Alissa McCarthy (3), Emily Fuchs (5), Eliza Engelsman (6), Asia Harrington (7)
-JV boys: 1st, Mike Depalma (1), Austin Conti (2), Kielan Rupert (3), Maki Rupert (4), Tyler Conti (5) and Tyler Wilkes (6).

X Men: James McWilliams (1), Michael Minsch (2), Kevin Lazo (3), Paul Nemetz (4), Ben Restaino (5), Jack Wyant (6), Kyle Ackourey (7), and Paul Klippel (8).

All results are posted online at www.hsskireg.org. Ridge is in the Independence League but will also race in the All League.

Bernards High School is in the Liberty league and those skiers race on different nights. Each league includes 5 to 7 schools. Ridge girls have a strong team this year, and Delbarton and Vernon have strong boy teams.

In last year's season, quite a few of the RHS racers qualified for Eastern Regionals, which this year will be held on March 8-11 in Cannon, N.H.