Having skied in many previous installments of the annual event, which has been incorporated into the Corner Brook Winter Carnival, Dunphy managed to beat Danny Faour — the only other competitor in the men’s 80-and-over age group last year.
With Faour, who will soon turn 87, not skiing in the race this year, Dunphy figured he might have an easy time defending his championship in the 50th running of the Old Sam Day races Friday.
But, with Roy Murley strapping on the boards in the category this year, Dunphy wasn’t about to be acclaimed just by swooshing down the slalom course set up on the Cruiser slope.
Unlike some of the skiers in the younger categories, Old Sam Day is not about who won.
“Some of the younger guys are competitive, but I’m not a competitive skier,” said Dunphy before the races.
“I never was. It’s just about having a bit of fun with the boys.”
There were exactly 100 men and women entered in Friday’s races. They were divided into 11 categories, including two age groups for snowboarders and separate races for ski instructors, and for the current and past presidents of the Marble Mountain Ski and Ride Club.
gkean@thewesternstar.com
Twitter: WS_GaryKean
