U.S. Champs Hit Alaska Thursday
ALYESKA, Alaska (March 23) - All eyes will be on World Cup overall, downhill and super G champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) as the best alpine skiers in the U.S. head to a place where it's still winter for the 2009 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships in Alyeska.
"I'm really looking forward to going up to Alaska," Vonn said. "It's nice to finish up the season by having races in the U.S. and I'm excited to make the trip up there."
For the third time in six years Alyeska will play host to national skiers looking to make their mark as best in the U.S. as they go all out to become a U.S. champion in downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom and super combined, as well as earn points for the region's cup.
"We've had some fantastic national events in Alyeska in the past. They have great venues and we really look forward to returning there to contend for national titles," said U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt.
This season athletes looking to win national will truly be skiing against the world's best with the likes of Vonn, who took World Championship medals in downhill and super G, along with World Championship giant slalom bronze medalist Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), World Cup winner Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) and Olympian Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA).
According to Hunt, U.S. Championships are a chance for the best athletes in the nation to come together in the spirit of competition.
"Nationals is a great opportunity for our ski community to come together. The timing and location make it a homecoming for our top athletes that have been competing on the road all season and it is a great opportunity for the young ones to ski with our international stars," Hunt said.
According to Vonn, while U.S. Championships are about competing to be the best skier in the nation, they are also a chance for her to hopefully inspire younger athletes by meeting them.
"U.S. Championships are always a good opportunity for me to connect with up and coming athletes and different ski clubs from across the nation," Vonn said.
Six days of alpine racing kick off March 26th with the annual FIS downhill followed by the start of title races on the 27th with the downhill.
2009 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships
Thursday, March 26
Men's and Women's downhill FIS race
Friday, March 27
Men's and Women's downhill
Opening Ceremonies starting at 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 28
Men's and Women's super G
Sunday, March 29
Men's and Women's slalom
Monday, March 30
Women's giant slalom
Tuesday, March 31
Men's giant slalom
