CARRABASSETT VALLEY, ME (March 24, 2017) – For the sixth time in the resort’s history, Sugarloaf will host the nation’s top men and women skiers as they tackle the legendary Narrow Gauge track in super G, giant slalom and slalom events as the U.S. Alpine Championships kick off on Saturday, and run through Tuesday.

The U.S. Alpine Championships are an integral part of the USSA’s national development program, where athletes from clubs and regional teams across the nation can see how they stack up against U.S. Ski Team mainstays.

Prior to the kickoff of the U.S. Alpine Championships Saturday, Sugarloaf hosted super G and alpine combined NorAm Cup races for the men and women. Canadians Mikaela Tommy and Sam Mulligan were victorious in the alpine combined, while Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes, CA) and Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA) won the first super G in the two race speed series and Megan McJames (Park City, UT) and Kipling Weisel (San Francisco, CA) won the second.  

Sugarloaf hometown hero Sam Morse flies through the air in his Audi FIS Ski World Cup debut at the recent World Cup Finals downhill in Aspen, Colorado. (U.S. Ski Team-Cody Downard)

Here’s a little sneak-peek on who to watch this weekend: 35 U.S. Ski Team members will be competing, highlighted by World Cup athletes Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA), who recently won his second career downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO); Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV); and recent World Junior Downhill Champion and Sugarloaf local Sam Morse (Sugarloaf, ME).

On the women’s side, keep an eye on 2015 super G U.S. National Champion Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) – also recently crowned 2017 U.S. National Downhill Champ from the NorAm in Copper Mountain, Colorado – along with Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR); Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) – who scored her first World Cup podium this season in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria; Stacey Cook; New England native Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH), the fiery tech specialist Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY), and recent World Junior Downhill Champion Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA).

The U.S. Ski Team is coming off another successful season including two titles for Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) – snagging both the overall and slalom crystal globes – three medals at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland; 21 World Cup podiums by five different athletes and three Junior World Ski Championships medals.

Sugarloaf’s legendary Narrow Gauge track will host super G, giant slalom and slalom events for the 2017 U.S. Alpine Championships (U.S. Ski Team-Dave Kynor)

Sugarloaf will not only play host to elite-level alpine ski racing, but also numerous off-hill events including opening ceremonies on Saturday, which will feature a parade of athletes, remarks by notable members of the Sugarloaf and U.S. Ski Team communities, including U.S. Senator Angus King, and will conclude with a fireworks display and live music in the Widowmaker Lounge with Harsh Armadillo. On Sunday, join local hero Sam Morse for an autograph session post-awards ceremony.

U.S. ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 25
Men’s and women’s super G

Sunday, March 26
Men’s and women’s slalom

Monday, March 27
Women’s giant slalom

Tuesday, March 28
Men’s giant slalom

DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Super G
Tim Jitloff
Anna Marno

Giant Slalom
Kieffer Christianson
Mikaela Shiffrin

Slalom
David Chodounsky
Mikaela Shiffrin

For all things U.S. Alpine Champs, make sure to check out the event website. 

U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) and U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athlete Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) have been nominated for the Utah State of Sports Award in the Pro/Olympian Male and Pro/Olympian Female categories. In 2012, the Utah Sports Commission created the Governor’s State of Sport Awards, which celebrates Utah’s sports industry and honors excellence in high school, amateur, collegiate, adaptive, Olympic and professional sports.

VOTE FOR STEVEN NYMAN IN THE UTAH STATE OF SPORT AWARDS

Nyman was nominated for his stellar 2016 season, in which he became the first American downhiller to step on four consecutive podiums—Chamonix (second), Jeongseon (third), Kvitfjell (second) and St. Moritz (second). While he sat out with a knee injury in 2017, look out for him to dominate in the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. 

Nyman is up against figure skater Nathan Chen, Real Salt Lake and U.S. national team soccer player Kyle Beckerman and Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert. Vote for Nyman here.

VOTE FOR ASHLEY CALDWELL IN THE UTAH STATE OF SPORT AWARDS


Ashley Caldwell celebrates winning the 2016 aerials World Cup title. (U.S. Ski Team/Greg Heuer)

Caldwell also had an outstanding 2016 season, landing three podiums and capturing the FIS Freestyle aerials World Cup title. She continued to push the sport of women's aerials in 2017, winning on home snow in Lake Placid, taking home gold at the FIS Freestyle World Championships and becoming the first woman ever to successfully land a quadruple-twisting triple flip. She is a strong medal contender for the 2018 Games.

Caldwell is up against USA Climbing's Alex Puccio, Utah Falconz football player Keeysha Cox and U.S. Speedskating's Heather Bergsma. Vote for Caldwell here. 

ASPEN, CO (Mar. 19, 2017) – Mikaela Shiffrin (Vail, CO) wrapped up a stellar season by lifting the overall World Cup crystal globe over her head in front of a roaring home state crowd.

At Sunday’s FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals giant slalom in Aspen, CO, Italian Federica Brignone proved too fast for any of the racers to catch, after taking almost a full second lead first run and building on it second run. Brignone led an Italian sweep, with her teammates Sofia Goggia in second and Marta Bassino third. Shiffrin finished sixth. “I’m not very satisfied,” said Shiffrin. I felt like I had some really good turns, but I didn’t take enough aggression when I really needed it. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it’s good motivation for next year.”

Mikaela Shiffrin races the World Cup Finals giant slalom at Aspen. (U.S. Ski Team-Cody Downard)

Shiffrin was able to celebrate her season-long accomplishment on Sunday, when she was given the overall crystal globe, signifying her best in the world status throughout the 2016-17 season. But she’s not satisfied yet.

“It has been something I’ve dreamed about,” said Shiffrin, who turned 22 while in Aspen. “It still doesn’t feel real, though. It’s like you’re constantly chasing this dream and as soon as you get it, you realize it’s still so far away. I’m so motivated to get better and I think that’s a good thing.”

Shiffrin stands with her overall crystal globe, flanked by Ilka Stuhec in second and Sofia Goggia in third. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)

Shiffrin joins an elite club of American skiers that have won the overall crystal globe, including Tamara McKinney (Squaw Valley, CA), Phil Mahre (Yakima, WA), Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) and Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO).

The men raced slalom Sunday with Andrew Myhrer of Sweden taking first, Felix Neureuther of Germany second and Michael Matt of Austria third. Marcel Hirscher of Austria was crowned overall World Cup champion for the sixth year in a row, a title he clinched weeks prior to Aspen.

The World Cup Finals wrapped the season, but the Americans still have the U.S. Alpine Championships taking place March 25-28 at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin won the overall World Cup crystal globe.
• On Saturday, Shiffrin brought home the slalom globe for the fourth time in five years.
• Shiffrin finished sixth in the World Cup Finals giant slalom.
• Tessa Worley won the giant slalom crystal globe for the women, the first GS globe for a French woman since 1993.
• Marcel Hirscher of Austria won the giant slalom and overall crystal globe for the men.

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin

(On the World Cup Finals GS)
I’m not very satisfied. I felt like I had some really good turns, but I didn’t take enough aggression when I really needed it. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it’s good motivation for next year.

(On the 2016-17 season)
Overall, it’s been incredible. It’s sort of sad that it’s over.

It’s physically grueling—it’s 60 seconds as hard as you can go. On most training days, we’re doing 12 of those runs. It’s a full-on workout. It’s pretty incredible to know that we can actually do that—how far you can actually push your limits and push your body right at the end of the year. It’s tiring physically and mentally. There are so many emotional rollercoasters that you just want to take a nap for three days straight.

It has been something I’ve dreamed about. It still doesn’t feel real, though. It’s like you’re constantly chasing this dream and as soon as you get it, you realize it’s still so far away. I’m so motivated to get better and I think that’s a good thing.

I’m really proud of the team around me: my coaches, my mom, all the people who have really been there this entire time, supported me the entire time. They’ve been in my dark moments and the bright moments too. There’s a big group of people that support me—sponsors and everybody, but there’s a small group of people who are with me every second and know me the best. I’m very thankful for them.

(On what’s next)
My goal right now is to race in speed at the Olympics, and a little more speed next year. But it’s really challenging. I raced a few super G racers this year and two downhills and even that was very tiring. I still focused on my main events, but as I get older and more confident and stronger, then I can add more speed.

I was thinking about next year at the beginning of this year. There’s always things to think about and there’s so much planning going into next season, especially with the Olympics. We’re planning summer ski plans and conditioning training and the season and how we’re going to manage traveling—there’s a lot that goes into it. I’m already thinking about it—I have been for a while.

RESULTS
Men’s slalom
Women’s giant slalom

ASPEN, CO (Mar. 18, 2017) - On a sunny day in Aspen, 22-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) took home her fourth slalom crystal globe in five years and clinched the coveted overall crystal globe at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals.

While Shiffrin didn’t win Saturday’s slalom, she took second place behind Petra Vlhova of Slovakia. Shiffrin was placed third after first run—just .07 seconds behind Vlhova—and though she put down a fast run second run to bump Frida Hansdotter of Sweden to third, she couldn’t take the win.

“It’s not always about the globe or World Cup points, but racing at home in front of the crowd and putting on a show,” said Shiffrin. “For sure I wanted to win, but today was just as good of a show with Petra taking the lead at the final split. It’s really cool for her and cool for me. The crowd was cheering for me, but for her too.”

Mikaela Shiffrin smiles after winning her slalom globe. Veronika Velez Zuzulova of Slovakia was second in the chase and Wendy Holdener of Switzerland third.

Sunday will be first time in five years that an American woman will hoist the overall crystal globe, but Shiffrin showed off her slalom globe on Saturday in front of the 7,000-person crowd in Aspen. Shiffrin joins an elite crowd of American ski racers that have won the overall World Cup title, including Tamara McKinney (Squaw Valley, CA), Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), Phil Mahre (Yakima, WA) and Bode Miller (Franconia, NH).

Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia trailed Shiffrin by 198 points prior to Saturday’s race, but with Stuhec making the decision to not race the slalom, Shiffrin sealed up the overall.

“It’s odd to say I won something in ski racing when I wasn’t actually out there,” said Shiffrin. “It feels a little more real today and it will feel more real tomorrow when I’m actually holding it. But it’s something hard to describe.”

Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY) was the only other American woman to race the slalom, finishing 19th.

Shiffrin hoists her Atomic skis in celebration in the finish. (Getty Images-Francis Bompard)

Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) was the lone American to compete in the men’s giant slalom Saturday, taking 18th place. Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), who has won the giant slalom globe five times and is recovering from back surgery, cheered him on in the finish.

“It’s been a learning year,” said Ford, who finished in the top 20 four times this season. “I’ve been progressing throughout the years and keep moving through. I think that was a good second run and I’m psyched for nationals.”

Although Marcel Hirscher of Austria had already wrapped up the giant slalom, slalom and overall crystal globe, he didn’t hold back in the GS. He had a come-from-behind victory, taking the win by over half a second, bringing his season win tally to six. Felix Neureuther of Germany was second and Mathieu Faivre of France third.

The World Cup Finals wraps Sunday with the men’s slalom and women’s giant slalom. Tessa Worley holds an 80-point lead over Shiffrin in the hunt for the GS globe. In order for Shiffrin to win it, Worley has to finish 16th place or lower, while Shiffrin has to win or be second. Both Shiffrin and Worley have won three giant slalom races this season.

Shiffrin skis to second place in the Aspen World Cup Finals slalom. (Getty Images-Tom Pennington)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin took second in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals slalom.
• Shiffrin won the slalom crystal globe for the fourth time in five years. She had clinched the title prior to the race. 
• Shiffrin clinched the overall World Cup crystal globe.
• Behind Shiffrin, Veronika Velez Zuzulova of Slovakia was second in the slalom crystal globe chase with Wendy Holdener of Switzerland third.
• Overall crystal globe winner in the 1982-83 season Tamara McKinney was in attendance to watch Shiffrin. Canadian Nancy Greene, who was the first crystal globe winner in 1966-67 and 1967-68, was also in attendance.  
• Marcel Hirscher won the men’s giant slalom, along with the slalom globe. He has also clinched the giant slalom and overall crystal globe.

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin
I love this hill. I really like racing here. I’ve had great results here and I’ve had almost really good results here, so it’s a new day and a good opportunity to ski fast. It’s the last race of the season, so I’m excited.

I wouldn’t call today a bad day. I was disappointed with some of my skiing, but also happy with some of my skiing. Second place is never bad.

(On winning the overall crystal globe)
It’s incredible. The odd thing is that I don’t know how I feel about it—I’m happy, it’s a good thing. When I found out yesterday—I was in my hotel room, taking a nap, and my mom said Ilka’s not racing the slalom, so now on paper you’ve won the overall.

It’s odd to say I won something in ski racing when I wasn’t actually out there. It feels a little more real today and it will feel more real tomorrow when I’m actually holding it. But it’s something hard to describe.

I remember when Tina Maze had her big, big season (in 2012-13) and she said to me at the end, ‘Don’t do every event. It’s so exhausting.’ Now a couple years later, I understand. I feel fatigued. It’s a tough balance.

(On taking the slalom globe)
Today I have the slalom globe, but my other goal is to win every single slalom. I don’t know if I’ll ever do it but that’s the kind of ambition I have. I wanted to finish out the season strong.

It’s not always about the globe or World Cup points, but racing at home in front of the crowd and putting on a show. For sure I wanted to win, but today was just as good of a show with Petra taking the lead at the final split. It’s really cool for her and cool for me. The crowd was cheering for me, but for her too.

It takes a huge, huge village. All of my sponsors—Atomic especially with the skis and it’s always a fight to have the best equipment out there so I can put out my best skiing. My mom is my biggest supporter, and my coaches, my physio, my service man, the rest of my family. There are a lot of people that go into making a champion. It’s not just my success, it’s everybody who has given me something along the way.

Tommy Ford
It’s been a learning year. I’ve been progressing throughout the years and keep moving through. I think that was a good second run and I’m psyched for nationals.

(World Cup Finals) is just another race—just one added race. It’s not anything different, but it’s cool to have it as a sign of a consistent season. I’m building consistency but I still have some work to do.

Resi Stiegler
My second half of the season has kind of been like today where I’m a little too nervous or I stumble or do something that is so costly. Second run, you can go for it as much as you want, but my style is pretty solid these days, so it’s hard to let loose and not make a bigger mistake. I just went for it. I want to get better results; that’s the point. My skiing is there, so I just need to believe.

I think I was in a really good groove in December and January and then we had this massive break into the World Championships. I think I just lost my groove a bit. Every race, I was trying to get it and I just kept making too many mistakes.

BROADCAST (all times EDT)

Sunday, March 19
11:00 - Women's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:00 - Men's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
1:00 p.m. – Men and women’s giant slalom - run 2 - NBCSN - LIVE

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom
Women’s slalom

WORLD CUP WINNERS/LEADERS
Men
Overall - Marcel Hirscher, Austria 
Downhill - Peter Fill, Italy
Super G - Kjetil Jansrud, Norway
Giant Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Alpine Combined - Alexis Pinturault, France

Women
Overall - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA
Downhill - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia
Super G – Tina Weirather, Liechtenstein
Giant Slalom - Tessa Worley, France - holds 80 point lead over Mikaela Shiffrin
Slalom - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA 
Alpine Combined - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia 

ASPEN, CO (Mar. 16, 2017) – Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) led the way for the U.S. Ski Team in a challenging super G at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on another sunny, warm, spring-like Colorado day.

“It’s nice to be done with the season and also, it’s nice to be able push one last race and have a good result,” said Ganong, who finished eighth in his final World Cup race of the season and now heads off to Sugarloaf, Maine, for the U.S. Alpine Championships March 25-28.

Austria’s Hannes Reichelt took the men’s victory over Wednesday’s downhill winner Dominik Paris of Italy. Mauro Caviezel of Switzerland and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway tied for third. Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) was 17^th.

In the women’s event, Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein mastered the soft, aggressive snow to take the victory and the overall World Cup super G title. Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec, who led the super G standings heading into Thursday’s race by just 15 points, finished second on the day, as Italy’s Frederica Brignone rounded out the podium in third.

Stuhec now trails Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) by 198 points in the battle for the overall World Cup title with just two races remaining – slalom on Saturday and giant slalom Sunday in Aspen.

Both Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) and Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) did not finish the super G. Vonn skied through a gate and crashed, while Ross got knocked off balance in a compression and also crashed. Both were OK and skied to the finish.

Lindsey Vonn waves to the crowd after crashing out of the super G Thursday in Aspen. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Francis Bompard)

“I think I just released the ski a little bit too early, and then once I realized that I didn’t have enough direction, I tried to really hammer on it,” said Vonn, who was working to carry her speed off the top portion f the course. “But I didn’t really have the strength or power to make it back. I almost had it, but I didn’t.”

“I’m not totally sure how I went down,” Ross said. “I think I just hooked up in a transition and high-sided, and landed on my side/bum/head. I slid for a while, but I’m OK.”

Up next, the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals continue Friday with the team event, followed by slalom Saturday and giant slalom Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hannes Reichelt of Austria and Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein won their respective men and women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals super G races Thursday in Aspen, Colorado.
• With her victory, Weirather moved past Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia to take the overall World Cup super G title, and Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud won the men’s overall World Cup super G title.
• Stuhec trails Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) by 198 points in the battle for the overall World Cup title with two races remaining.
• Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) was the top  American in the men’s race in eighth.
• The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals continue Friday with the team event.

QUOTES
Travis Ganong
It’s nice to be done with the season and also, it’s nice to be able push one last race and have a good result.

Laurenne Ross
I’m not totally sure how I went down, I think I just hooked up in a transition and high-sided, and landed on my side/bum/head. I slid for a while, but I’m OK.

I think my run was going OK beforehand. I felt like I was arching down the pitch and having some fun.

Lindsey Vonn
I think I just released the ski a little bit too early, and then once I realized that I didn’t have enough direction, I tried to really hammer on it. But I didn’t really have the strength or power to make it back. I almost had it, but I didn’t.

BROADCAST (all times EDT)

Friday, March 17
12:30 p.m. – Team event – NBCSN

Saturday, March 18
11:00 a.m. - Men's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:00 - Women's slalom - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:30 p.m. – Men's GS and women’s slalom - run 1 - NBCSN
1:30 p.m. - Men's GS - run 2 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
2:30 p.m. - Women's slalom - run 2 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
6:00 p.m. - Men's GS and women's slalom - run 2 - NBCSN

Sunday, March 19
11:00 - Women's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:00 - Men's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
1:00 p.m. – Men and women’s giant slalom - run 2 - NBCSN - LIVE

RESULTS
Men’s super G
Women’s super G

Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein celebrates winning the overall title World Cup super G title Thursday in Aspen. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Francis Bompard)

WORLD CUP WINNERS/LEADERS
Men
Overall - Marcel Hirscher, Austria 
Downhill - Peter Fill, Italy
Super G - Kjetil Jansrud, Norway
Giant Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Alpine Combined - Alexis Pinturault, France

Women
Overall - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA - holds 198-point lead over Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia
Downhill - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia
Super G – Tina Weirather, Liechtenstein
Giant Slalom - Tessa Worley, France - holds 80 point lead over Mikaela Shiffrin
Slalom - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA 
Alpine Combined - Ilka Stuhec 

ASPEN, Colorado (March 15, 2017) – Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) wrapped up the World Cup downhill season with her fourth podium finish of the season at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals on a warm, spring day in Aspen.

Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec won the overall World Cup downhill title after winning her fourth downhill of the season as temperatures reached into the upper 50s. Italy’s Sofia Goggia was third. Stuhec trails Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) by 273 points in the battle for the overall World Cup title with three races remaining.

Lindsey Vonn stood on the podium in second place with Ilka Stuhec in first and Sofia Goggia in third. (U.S. Ski Team)

Other U.S. finishers included, Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) in fifth; Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) 14^th; Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) 16^th; and newly crowned Junior World Downhill Champion Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA) in 19^th.

Vonn was happy with her second-place result, especially as she fought off a cold and fatigue following her return to the World Cup this past January after a pair of injuries.

“I have to put everything into perspective. I am really happy to be second, coming back from this injury … so I’m very appreciative of being on the podium,” said Vonn, who slid into the finish corral pads following her run. “I was so tired. I just couldn’t stop fast enough. That’s one of the first times I’ve done that and I’m happy that (no injuries) happened.”

Laurenne Ross finished fifth in Aspen. (Getty Images-Tom Pennington)

In the men’s race, Italy’s Peter Fill, who trailed Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud by 33 points in the battle for the overall World Cup downhill title, finished second for the fourth time this season to win the downhill title by 23 points. Fill’s countryman Dominik Paris won the race, as Swiss Carlo Janka was third. Jansrud, winner of two World Cup downhill races this season, finished 11^th.

For the Americans, Travis Ganong (Sqauw Valley, CA) was 17^th, and Sam Morse, who won the Junior World Downhill title last week in Are, Sweden, finished 21^st in his World Cup debut.

Travis Ganong was 17^th Wednesday in Aspen. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom- Alexis Boichard)

“What an unbelievable experience,” said Morse, who heads off to Mont Ste-Marie, Quebec for the NorAm finals this weekend and then U.S. Alpine Championships at Sugarloaf, Maine, next week before planning a full World Cup season next year. “This is great! It’s an honor just to be here, to be even within the same ballpark with these guys is incredible.”

Up next, the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals continue Thursday with men and women’s super G.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dominik Paris of Italy and Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia won their respective men and women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals downhill races Wednesday in Aspen, Colorado.
• Stuhec wrapped up the overall World Cup downhill title for the women, and Italy’s Peter Fill won the men’s overall World Cup downhill title.
• Stuhec trails Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) by 273 points in the battle for the overall World Cup title with three races remaining.
• Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) was the top-placed American in the women’s race in second, as Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) was the top-placed American in the men’s race in 17^th.
• Other American finishers included: Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) in fifth; Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) 14^th; Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) 16^th; and newly crowned Junior World Downhill Champions Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA) and Sam Morse were 19^th and 21^st in their respective races.
• The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals continue Thursday with men and women’s super G.

QUOTES
Travis Ganong
Today’s wasn’t what I wanted, but it’s always good to race at home in the U.S. and be back in Aspen. Last time I raced here was in 2010 … it’s a sweet course, a great venue.

We have the super G tomorrow and this hill is going to be really, really challenging. You go down Aztec and some of those turns are just stacked, super steep and unforgiving.

Sam Morse
What an unbelievable experience. This is great! It’s an honor just to be here, to be even within the same ballpark with these guys is incredible.

Laurenne Ross
My run was pretty solid. I had a few spots I could have cleaned up a little bit, but it’s an awesome day and I feel spring coming on.

It’s awesome to be able to come home and finish out the World Cup season in the states. We’re really lucky to have this because it doesn’t happen very often.

Lindsey Vonn
I was so tired. I just couldn’t stop fast enough. That’s one of the first times I’ve done that and I’m happy that (no injuries) happened.

The training runs I didn’t feel too bad. But today, it’s really in my lungs, and I was in the start and saying ‘I don’t know how am I going to do this.’ But I just skied my best and the results are the results. I skied as hard as I could.

I have to put everything into perspective. I am really happy to be second, coming back from this injury … so I’m very appreciative of being on the podium.

BROADCAST (All Times EDT)
Thursday, March 16
11:30 a.m. - Men and women's super G - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:00 p.m. - Men and women’s super G - NBCSN

Friday, March 17
12:30 p.m. – Team event – NBCSN

Saturday, March 18
11:00 a.m. - Men's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:00 - Women's slalom - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:30 p.m. – Men's GS and women’s slalom - run 1 - NBCSN
1:30 p.m. - Men's GS - run 2 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
2:30 p.m. - Women's slalom - run 2 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
6:00 p.m. - Men's GS and women's slalom - run 2 - NBCSN

Sunday, March 19
11:00 - Women's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
12:00 - Men's GS - run 1 - nbcsports.com/live - LIVE STREAM
1:00 p.m. – Men and women’s giant slalom - run 2 - NBCSN - LIVE

RESULTS
Men’s downhill
Women’s downhill

Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec and Italy’s Peter Fill won the downhill Crystal Globes. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Francis Bompard)

WORLD CUP WINNERS/LEADERS
Men
Overall - Marcel Hirscher, Austria 
Downhill - Peter Fill, Italy
Super G - Kjetil Jansrud, Norway
Giant Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria
Alpine Combined - Alexis Pinturault, France

Women
Overall - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA - holds 278-point lead over Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia
Downhill - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia
Super G - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia - holds 15 point lead over Tina Weirather, Liechtenstein
Giant Slalom - Tessa Worley, France - holds 80 point lead over Mikaela Shiffrin
Slalom - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA 
Alpine Combined - Ilka Stuhec 

ASPEN, Colorado (Mar. 14, 2017) – The upper echelon of ski racers from around the world have descended upon a little place called Aspen, Colorado this week for the final Audi FIS Ski World Cup event of the season – the grand finale – World Cup Finals.

Headlining the event will be Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO), who recently swept the tech series and clinched the slalom globe at Squaw Valley, California, is attempting to bring home her career first overall World Cup title this week. Fans can watch her quest for the crystal globe all week on NBC and NBCSN.

Though the men have not been on Aspen soil since November 2001 when Aspen hosted a World Cup slalom race, the women have competed in World Cup races every year since 2001 with the exception of 2003-04 and 2013-14 seasons. Needless to say, it’s good to be back on Aspen soil – a sentiment felt not only by the American team, but across all nations.

Lindsey Vonn was third in downhill training Tuesday at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen, Colorado. (Getty Images-Sean M. Haffey)

The festivities will begin on Wednesday with the downhill, and the week will be action-packed with hunts for globes. While Marcel Hirscher of Austria has clinched the overall men's title, Shiffrin will have to wait, carrying a 378-point margin over Slovenia's Ilka Stuhec with four events remaining. In addition to wrapping up the slalom globe with her win Saturday in Squaw Valley, she’ll be challenging the 80-point lead of France's Tessa Worley in giant slalom Sunday.

Though the women on the tech side are no strangers to Aspen, the last time a speed event of any kind was held in Aspen was in December 2007. A new track is a tricky thing to master, and after two downhill training runs, the athletes seem to finally be figuring it out.

The “America’s Downhill” track, which starts on Ruthie’s Run and sends racers into Aztec and Spring Pitch, creates one of the most challenging sequences of high-speed turns of any downhill in the world. This week, the track features grippy Colorado snow and an excellent surface considering the warm temps and spring-like weather.

Junior World Downhill Champion Sam Morse was 20^th in Tuesday’s downhill training run at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals. (Getty Images-Ezra Shaw)

Though Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) had high hopes to become the first American Downhiller male to win the downhill globe on home soil, he’ll be on the sidelines watching and cheering on his teammates, including Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) – currently ranked seventh in the world in downhill.

After two downhill training days for the men and women, Stuhec is a clear favorite on the women’s side, but Colorado girl Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) will undoubtedly put up a good fight that’ll have the crowd on their feet. Italy’s Sofia Goggia and Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg have been skiing fast both days in training too. On the men’s side, it’s a fight for the globe between Attacking Viking Kjetil Jansrud and Italian Peter Fill, though Fill has been strong in training.

Keep an eye on a couple of fresh faces skiing for the U.S., including Sam Morse (Sugarloaf, ME) and Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA), who recently swept downhill gold at the 2017 FIS Junior World Ski Championships last week, earning them a starting spot in the downhill on Wednesday.

Make sure to take advantage of the full schedule of events during Finals week at Aspen. 

U.S. World Cup Finals Qualifiers
Men
Tommy Ford (GS)
Travis Ganong (DH, SG)
Sam Morse (DH as Junior World Champion)*
Andrew Weibrecht (SG)
*Denotes first World Cup start.

Women
Stacey Cook (DH)
Breezy Johnson (DH)
Alice Merryweather (DH as Junior World Champion)
Laurenne Ross (DH, SG)
Mikaela Shiffrin (Qualified for all; likely ski GS, SL)
Resi Stiegler (SL)
Lindsey Vonn (DH, SG)
Jackie Wiles (DH)

World Cup Leaders
Men
Overall - Marcel Hirscher, Austria (clinched)
Downhill - Kjetil Jansrud, Norway (holds 33 point lead over Peter Fill, Italy)
Super G - Kjetil Jansrud, Norway (clinched)
Giant Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria (clinched)
Slalom - Marcel Hirscher, Austria (clinched)
Alpine Combined - Alexis Pinturault, France (clinched, no further races)

Women
Overall - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA (holds 378 point lead over Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia)
Downhill - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia (holds 97 point lead over Sofia Goggia, Italy)
Super G - Ilka Stuhec, Slovenia (holds 15 point lead over Tina Weirather, Liechtenstein)
Giant Slalom - Tessa Worley, France (holds 80 point lead over Mikaela Shiffrin)
Slalom - Mikaela Shiffrin, USA (clinched)
Alpine Combined - Ilka Stuhec (clinched, no further races)

RESULTS
Men’s downhill training 1
Men’s downhill training 2
Women’s downhill training 1
Women’s downhill training 2

RE, Sweden (March 14, 2017) – George Steffey (Lyme, NH; U.S. Ski Team D Team/Stratton Mountain School) rolled out of the 49^th start position and just missed cracking the top 10 in slalom at the final event of the 2017 FIS Junior World Ski Championships.

On another warm, wet day competing on salted and peely snow in re, Steffey led the Americans with an 11^th-place finish. Austria’s Adrian Pertl won the slalom gold, as Bjoern Brudevoll of Norway took the silver medal, and Russia’s Simon Efimov took the bronze. Jett Seymour (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) was 22^nd; Andrew Miller (Park City, UT; National Training Group/Park City Ski Team) 26^th; and Garret Driller (Tahoe City, CA; U.S. Ski Team N-UNI Team/Montana State University Ski Team) was 29^th.

“Jett and Garret started top seed, but they both had issues first run,” said Alpine Development Team Director Chip Knight. “Jett managed to hold 15^th and George made a strong move from bib 49 to 21^st with a consistent run for the conditions.”

The Italians set a fast, quick tempo first run course, with rhythm changes throughout the terrain, resulting in a high attrition rate as 77 athletes failing to finish the first run.

The second run as set with more distance and offset as Steffey posted the second-fastest, second run time to move up to 11^th.

“Jett had trouble through some big turns in the middle section and moved back to 22^nd,” Knight said. “Andrew Miller had the good fortune of starting first second run on the clean track and moved up to 26th.”

The U.S. finished the 2017 FIS Junior World Ski Championships with three medals: Sam Morse (Sugarloaf, ME; U.S. Ski Team C Team/Carrabassett Valley Academy) and Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA; U.S. Ski Team C Team/Stratton Mountain School) won gold in the downhill. River Radamus (Edwards, CO; U.S. Ski Team D Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) won the silver medal in alpine combined.

In the Marc Hodler Trophy Cup, awarded to the best overall junior team, the U.S. finished fifth.

“Top-five was a goal of ours after only managing ninth last year,” Knight said. “We still have a lot of work to do to challenge for the title, especially in the technical events, but we're moving in the right direction.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• George Steffey (Lyme, NH; U.S. Ski Team D Team/Stratton Mountain School) led the Americans with an 11^th-place finish.
• Austria’s Adrian Pertl won the slalom gold, as Bjoern Brudevoll of Norway took the silver medal, and Russia’s Simon Efimov took the bronze.
• Jett Seymour (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) was 22^nd; Andrew Miller (Park City, UT; National Training Group/Park City Ski Team) 26^th; and Garret Driller (Tahoe City, CA; U.S. Ski Team N-UNI Team/Montana State University Ski Team) was 29^th.
• The U.S. finished fifth in the Marc Hodler Trophy Cup Team standings.

RESULTS
Men’s slalom

RE, Sweden (March 13, 2017) – The men’s giant slalom and women’s slalom went off at the 2017 FIS Junior World Ski Championships on Monday. Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA; U.S. Ski Team C Team/Squaw Valley Ski Team) led the charge in giant slalom landing in 10^th. On the women’s side, Nina O’Brien (Edwards, CO; U.S. Ski Team D Team/Burke Mountain Academy/Squaw Valley Ski Team) posted the best American slalom result in 15^th.

It was tough conditions for the men, with a full-on World Cup giant slalom hill in terms of length, turns and big terrain changes. The weather was warm and the light was flat, which resulted in a bumpy and hard surface with peely snow. Switzerland’s Loic Meillard took home his second gold of the week, while Norway’s Timon Haugan and France’s Victor Guillot grabbed silver and bronze, respectively.

It’s been a challenging week for 2016 Junior Worlds downhill champion Arvidsson, who DNFed in the downhill, was 20^th in super G and 22^nd in the alpine combined, but he fought hard to finish in the top 10 in giant slalom.

“Erik had a good GS race,” said Alpine Development Director Chip Knight. “He fought hard and overcame his disappointment from downhill and super G to post a solid result. The other guys didn’t have the overall results they wanted, but there were many bright spots.”

On the women’s side, it started raining prior to the women’s slalom, but the surface held up fairly well. Patricia Mangan (Derby, NY; U.S. Ski Team C Team/Holimont Racing Club) had finished eighth first run, but struggled with the course conditions second run, sliding out and DNFing. O’Brien was steady both runs to finish 15^th. Switzerland once again grabbed gold, with Camille Rast on the top of the podium. Canada’s Ali Nullmeyer finished second, and Austria’s Chiara Mair rounded out the top three.

In Sunday’s mixed team event, the U.S. lost to Norway 3-1 in the first round. The U.S. team was composed of Mangan, O’Brien, Jett Seymour (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) and George Steffey (Lyme, NH; U.S. Ski Team D Team/Stratton Mountain School). Canada won by beating Austria, while Belgium finished third over Germany.

“It's tough to go up against a strong team like Norway in the first round, but every team has to ski well to move on,” said Knight. “It was an exciting race. We have to do better in the (Marc) Hodler Cup to improve our seeding, but we also need to ski this event more as a nation so we are consistent and fast when it counts.”

In Sunday’s women’s giant slalom race, Rachael DesRochers (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) paved the way, grabbing a 14^th place finish.

The Junior World Ski Championships wrap up Tuesday in re, Sweden with men’s slalom.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA; U.S. Ski Team C Team/Squaw Valley Ski Team) led the charge in Monday’s giant slalom landing in 10^th.
• Nina O’Brien (Edwards, CO; U.S. Ski Team D Team; Burke Mountain Academy/Squaw Valley Ski Team) was the best U.S. finisher for the women in Monday’s slalom, finishing in 15^th.
• In Sunday’s women’s giant slalom race, Rachael DesRochers (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) grabbed a 14^th place finish.
• The FIS Junior World Ski Championships will wrap up on Tuesday in re, Sweden with men’s slalom.
• To end the week of competition, the prestigious Marc Hodler Trophy will be awarded to the team with the best overall performance.

RESULTS
Mixed Team Event
Women’s Giant Slalom
Men’s Giant Slalom
Women’s Slalom

Just before leaving for the Squaw Valley World Cup series where she swept the wins at both the slalom and giant slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) spent a couple days spring skiing with the kids of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. Not only did she get great training in at an elite venue, she had the opportunity to inspire young athletes to reach for the medals, just like she has done. Plus, the director of the club is her former coach at Burke Mountain Academy.

Read more about Shiffrin’s visit to SSCV and how her upbringing shaped her into the skier she is today in John Meyer’s Denver Post article.