News Release

Girdwood, Alaska - March 17, 2004

Crisp Air and Blue Skies Greet Racers for Downhill Training Runs

Competitors look to improve their times for the second downhill training runs at Mt. Alyeska’s bowl and Gelende Trail today. Women’s training is scheduled for 11 a.m., with the Men beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Training races take part in the Alyeska Bowl and Gelende Trail, with the finish just behind the Daylodge. Today’s course start is at 885 M above sea level, the finish at 100 M above sea level, with a vertical drop of 785 M for the 2,747 M length.

Fog and mist across Mt. Alyeska challenged yesterday’s racers on downhill training runs ahead of the Downhill FIS races slated for Thursday March 18, 2004 with the U.S. Alpine Downhill Championships on Friday, March 19th.

Just four (4) seconds separated the top 15 men’s training runs with Byron Friedman placing first, Elliot Daniels second and Mitt Coats third. The top 15 women were also separated by four (4) seconds with Kristen Bybee first, Julia Littman second and Lindsey Kildow third. Top times for the women were 1 minute 57 seconds for the two (2) mile course. The men ran ten (10) seconds faster at 1 minute 47 seconds.

Two Alyeska Ski Club members – Anchorage’s Morgan Gose finished her training run in 22nd place at 1:58:21. Melinda Bartel and Brittany Mumma, 35th and 34th in training - will work for improvements over yesterday’s results. Other USSA ski team members include Lindsey Kildow, Julia Mancuso, Jonna Mendes, and Libby Ludlow, to name a few. Thirty six (36) women will train today.

Alaska skiers Charles Christianson, Andre Horton, Elliot Daniels, and Kyle Kung are among the 62 men making training runs again today. Three Alyeska Ski Club members John Love, Rory Casey and Nick Therrien will work to take advantage of improved weather and light conditions. For a complete start list, as well as other pertinent information about the upcoming Chevrolet 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships, explore www.skianchorage.net.

Contacts:

Gary Scott
Communications Manager, Alyeska Resort
907-754-2211
gscott@alyeskaresort.com
Explore www.skianchorage.net

Jeanette Anderson Moores
907-229-6925
Press Room Manager
janders1@provak.org
Explore www.skianchorage.net