Local Snowboard Champ Invited to International Competition

For most of us, snow is the furthest thing from our mind as summer is here and the beach is close by.

But for Alexis (Lexi) Sinor, of Manahawkin, it is upfront in her thoughts as she and her entire college championship snowboard team have been invited to compete in the World University Winter Games in Trentino, Italy this December.    

Sinor, who has been snowboarding since she was eight-years-old, placed third overall in last year’s United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (UCSCA) championship. While her Westminster College women's team won the tournament for the fifth straight year and the men's team took second.  

The school did not know until just recently they would get the invitation to represent the United States in the international games which have been held every two years since 1949, said Sinor.

As a result, the college has no funds to send the 18 student athletes, 10 men and eight women, to compete.

Each student will need to raise $4000 for them to go and represent the USA, said Sinor, who will be senior at the Utah college in the fall where she is studying for a teaching degree.

To assist her, friends and family are holding a Spaghetti Dinner and Auction on Saturday, July 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at All Saints Regional Catholic School, 400 Doc Cranmer Blvd. in Manahawkin. Auction items include: a Chowderfest Weekend Package, a fishing trip for two on the Miss Barnegat Light, jewelry, baskets of cheer and more. Live entertainment will be provided by the 559 Band.

Tickets are $12 and include admission, dinner and one drink ticket (beer, wine, soda). Children under 10 are $7. Tickets are available by calling 609-709-8356.