Squaw Ready for U.S. Championships

SQUAW VALLEY, CA (March 14) - Final course preparations are underway at Squaw Valley for the opening of the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships next week, March 19-23. USSA Technical Advisor Tom Johnston provided favorable reports from his initial inspection of Red Dog, the new run being used for the giant slalom and slalom events, with two to three feet of snow. Olympic champions Ted Ligety and Mikaela Shiffrin, along with bronze medalist and local favorite Julia Mancuso, are expected to compete.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Final course preparations are underway on Red Dog at Squaw Valley for next week's Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships with two to three feet of snow on the trail.
• USSA Technical Advisor Tom Johnston was very pleased with the quality and quantity of snow as machines began final preparation this week for the Championships.
• The race course has been moved one run to skier's right for year, providing more interesting terrain that Johnston feels could make it one of the top five giant slalom courses in the country.
• Johnston is a noted expert on snow surface preparation. He was in charge of snow preparation on the recent Olympic women's courses in Sochi and credited with playing a major role in the consistent qualify of courses despite challenging weather conditions.
• Olympic champions Ted Ligety and Mikaela Shiffrin, along with bronze medalist and local favorite Julia Mancuso, are expected to compete.

QUOTES
Tom Johnston, USSA Technical Advisor
Red Dog will be a really exciting trail. It has lots of character and terrain and might be one of the top five GS hills in the country. It's a course that will be great for spectators and for TV.

We have plenty of snow right now - two to three feet everywhere. We're trying to leave much of it alone and not over groom. We'll also add a little water at the top where it's drier.