McJames Scores First National Title
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, ME (March 27, 2017) – Megan McJames (Park City, UT – Western Region) walked away from U.S. Alpine Championships in Sugarloaf, Maine with her career first national title in Monday’s giant slalom.
McJames continued her end of season fire, topping the podium and grabbing her first national title despite some challenging New England conditions with gusting winds and snowfall. Former U.S. Ski Team athlete and current Dartmouth Big Green standout Foreste Peterson was .33 seconds off the pace, with Patricia Mangan (Derby, NY – U.S. Ski Team), who also attends Dartmouth, rounding out the podium in third, 1.82 out.
Mangan was also the top junior of the day, followed by Galena Wardle (Basalt, CO – U.S. Ski Team) and Keely Cashman (Strawberry, CA – U.S. Ski Team) – who finished fourth and sixth overall, respectively.
Patricia Mangan was the top junior in Monday's gnarly giant slalom, finishing third. (U.S. Ski Team - Reese Brown)
Though Mother Nature provided quite the test for the women, McJames and Peterson both commented on their confidence in the surface on the track, thanks to the tireless work of the course crew at Sugarloaf. “It was some of the craziest conditions I think I’ve ever raced in,” said Peterson, “but I was so confident in the snow because it was so good first run so I just knew that I could stand on it and push it.”
For McJames – as an independent athlete who is her own technician – the win was extra sweet and the cherry on top of a long, arduous season on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup circuit. “Today I wanted it, and it was tough conditions, but I think if there’s anything I’ve learned in the last four years of being an independent skier it’s that perseverance is the name of the game,” noted McJames.
McJames, who is coached by boyfriend and former U.S. Ski Team athlete Cody Marshall, co-founder of Groundswell Athletics, is proud to end the season with a victory and show that all of her hard work has paid off. “I’ve been skiing well and I’m proud of it, and so I’m happy that it paid off today,” said McJames. “This time of year, things that I do as an independent skier – like tuning my skis and everything – starts to catch up because everyone’s a little bit tired. So, to be able to pull it off the last race of the year I feel happy.”
The U.S. Alpine Championships will wrap up on Tuesday, with men’s giant slalom.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Megan McJames won Monday’s giant slalom, grabbing her career first national title.
- Former U.S. Ski Team athlete and current Dartmouth athlete Foreste Peterson was second, just .33 off McJames’ pace.
- Patricia Mangan was the top junior, finishing third.
- The U.S. Alpine Championships will conclude on Tuesday, with men’s giant slalom.
QUOTES
Megan McJames
I have had the combined win, but I’ve never won an event. Today I wanted it, and it was tough conditions, but I think if there’s anything I’ve learned in the last four years of being an independent skier it’s that perseverance is the name of the game. I’ve been skiing well and I’m proud of it, and so I’m happy that it paid off today. This time of year, things that I do as an independent skier – like tuning my skis and everything – starts to catch up because everyone’s a little bit tired. So, to be able to pull it off the last race of the year I feel happy.
Forest Peterson
I surprised myself with my results this year – just given I am a full-time student and I’m not training full time. It definitely feels pretty sweet. It was some of the craziest conditions I think I’ve ever raced in, but I was so confident in the snow because it was so good first run so I just knew that I could stand on it and push it.
Patricia Mangan
It’s crazy weather – super windy and a lot of snow – but everyone was kind of in the same spot at the start, so I knew that everybody else was going to step up so I had to as well. It feels really good (to be on the podium). GS skiing has been getting better, slowly, so it’s nice to have things come together in my final race of the season.
RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom
