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Skiers bring back medals -- and talk of avalanches Masters racers had to be airlifted to Switzerland games By BILL KETTLER Two Rogue Valley ski racers returned home from international competition in Switzerland with memories of avalanches that made news around the world. Dan Bulkley and Reider Peterson were among hundreds of athletes who were airlifted to Grindelwald, Switzerland, in late February after avalanches closed roads to the site of the World Masters Ski Championships. "For a while there was talk of canceling the (Swiss) games," said Bulkley, 81, of Phoenix. He and Peterson, of Ashland, returned home last week after a three-week ski trip that took them to the Masters World Cup races and the U.S. National Masters Championships in West Yellowstone, Mont. Bulkley won silver medals in 10- and 15-kilometer races for the 80-85 age group in Switzerland. Peterson, 59, finished in the middle of a field of more than 40 racers in 15- and 30-kilometer races. Bulkley actually won a 20-kilometer race but collected no medal because of a mix-up at the starting gate. Bulkley passed the Russian skier who technically finished first, but officials failed to note Bulkley's bib number when he entered the staggered-start course. Without a starting number, Bulkley officially did not start the race, so he could not be declared winner. "I found out at the (awards) banquet that I'd been disqualified," he said. Bulkley said an American team representative told him he planned to protest the decision, but Bulkley has yet to learn whether the protest was filed or upheld. "I may have gotten a medal," he said. "Or I may not. It's kind of frustrating, considering I passed (the winner)." Bulkley said the Swiss games started a day late after avalanches blocked roads into Grindelwald. Avalanches in nearby Austrian valleys killed dozens and destroyed many homes, "but there was no danger in Grindelwald." Peterson said the avalanches developed because deep layers of new, unstable snow fell on top of snow that had a coating of hard, slippery ice. While small helicopters ferried athletes into the Grindelwald games, large military helicopters airlifted casualties from nearby valleys. Bulkley said conditions were perfect for the American championships in West Yellowstone, where he won gold medals in 10- and 15-kilometer races. Peterson placed 11th in both 15- and 30-kilometer races at West Yellowstone. He took sixth in a 50-kilometer (31 mile) race with a time of 2 hours, 58 minutes. Peterson said meeting other athletes and getting to know people from around the world is the real prize in masters competition. "You go out and race against them, and then go have a beer with them," he said. "You really don't care who beats who as long as you have a good race. "You make some great friends." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA