U.S. Champs to Feature 2010 Olympians
LAKE PLACID, NY – The 1932 and 1980 Olympic Village of Lake Placid is poised to welcome over a dozen Olympians later this month including three-time medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) and 2006 gold medalist Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) when the 2010 U.S. Alpine Championships roll into Whiteface Mountain in nearby Wilmington March 20-23.
Local Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY), who captured a stunning super G bronze in Vancouver, won't be able to race due to a dislocated shoulder, but plans to be there to support his teammates.
"Taking bronze at the Olympics was such an incredible experience, but it didn't really set in until I was able to take that medal back to Lake Placid to share it with all my family and friends," said Weibrecht, who was honored with a Feb. 26 parade down Main Street Lake Placid. "It would have been perfect to wrap up my competition year at home, but I'll still be there to support my teammates and the hundreds of racers from across the country gunning for U.S. bragging rights."
An extensive list of 2010 Olympians are expected to race for titles at the 1980 Olympic Mountain including Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT), Jimmy Cochran (Keene, NH), Will Brandenburg (Spokane, WA), Tommy Ford (Bend, OR), Nolan Kasper (Warren, VT), Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, CO), Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA), Leanne Smith (Conway, NH), Chelsea Marshall (Pittsfield, VT), Hailey Duke (Boise, ID), Megan McJames (Park City, UT), Kaylin Richardson (Edina, MN) and Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO).
A long-time host of FIS World Cup events for skiing and snowboarding, the classic race series will mark the second time the Olympic Region has hosted the U.S. Championships in the last four years. Whiteface also hosted the alpine championships in 2003, when the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) said they'd pick up the races when lack of snow strained Alaska.
"Fresh from such an inspiring Olympics, it's exciting to have so many of the athletes who raced in Vancouver, compete here at Whiteface," said ORDA President Ted Blazer. "It was incredible to see these athletes dominate the slopes in Whistler, and it's going to be equally exciting to watch them compete for titles among the nations most talented young racers on the 1980 Olympic mountain."
Races open Saturday, March 20 at on Draper's Drop with men's and women's super G followed by slalom Sunday, men's giant slalom on Monday and women's giant slalom on Monday. The U.S. downhill championships were awarded to Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA) and Smith on February 27 in Aspen, CO as part of a series of NorAm speed races.
"Lake Placid and Whiteface have always been such incredible supporters of world class athletics and I expect these championships to continue that legacy," said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Vice President Events Calum Clark. "They stepped up to the plate in 2003 and hit an absolute home run. As an organization, we're thrilled to bring some of the best alpine athletes in the country back to the Adirondacks."
An opening ceremonies celebration is also planned for downtown Lake Placid on Saturday March 20 as well as special fundraising events to support building a new ski lift at nearby Mt. Pisgah in Saranac Lake.
2010 U.S. Alpine Championships
Saturday, March 20
10:15 a.m. ET – Women's super G
1:30 p.m. ET – Men's super G
7:30 p.m. ET – Opening Ceremonies – Downtown Lake Placid
Sunday, March 21
9:30 a.m. ET – Men's Slalom run 1
11:00 a.m. ET – Women's Slalom run 1
12:30 p.m. ET – Men's Slalom Final
1:45 p.m. ET – Women's Slalom Final
Monday, March 22
10:00 a.m. ET – Men's Giant Slalom run 1
1:00 p.m. ET – Men's Giant Slalom Final
Tuesday, March 23
10:00 a.m. ET – Women's Giant Slalom run 1
1:00 p.m. ET – Women's Giant Slalom Final
