Girdwood, Alaska – March 19, 2004

Bring home the Seawolves

For the first time this season the University of Alaska Anchorage Ski Team competed in front of a home crowd and the advantages of being on home turf were evident. Team member David Duncan finished ninth Friday in the Chevrolet 2004 U.S. Alpine Championship downhill competition at Alyeska Resort, with a time of 1 minute, 42.11 seconds, 23 seconds ahead of Bode Miller, who is ranked second in the United States.

“These guys practice this hill all the time,” said Meegan Lynch, UAA assistant coach. “It is nice for them to get to race on it.”

Another advantage for the UAA skiers is hearing Seawolf fans in the crowd. “The fan support is really great in Alaska,” said Duncan, a sophomore at UAA who is from Canada.

Members of the UAA women’s basketball team were on hand cheering for their green and gold and supporting their fellow athletes.

“We usually just see them in the weight room,” said junior Jessie Riley. “It is nice to see what they work so hard for and be there to cheer them on like they do for us.” For Duncan, who claims his best races are the slalom and the Super G, Friday’s results are impressive.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Duncan. Other UAA skiers Christian Ringvold and Einar-Marius Elvrum competed in the downhill race. They finished 43rd and 51st out of 55 competitors.

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Story by Alysha Gobble
UAA Student, PRSSA member and Chevrolet 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships Media Room Volunteer

Photo Credit
Pamela Eldridge
UAA Student, PRSSA member and Chevrolet 2004 U.S. Alpine Championships Media Room Volunteer