Thursday, March 04th, 2010 •
U.S. Ski Team News - Alpine
LAKE TAHOE, CA (March 4) – Five-time Olympic medalist Bode Miller (Franconia, NH), who captured a historic full compliment of medals in Vancouver is auctioning his signed Olympic helmet on eBay to help raise money for Pam Warman, a former U.S. Ski Team technician, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
The helmet, currently going for $2,050, can be found at www.ebay.com and ends Wednesday, March 10 at 5:15 p.m. ET.
Warman, originally from Portillo, Chile tuned skis for the U.S. Ski Team from 2001-2006 including Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) and Bryon Friedman (Park City, UT). She now calls Lake Tahoe, CA home and spends her winters working with Sierra at Tahoe Resort and her summers landscaping with Pete Lavin (AKA Baby Huey), the long-time start house hype-man for the men's World Cup team.
"I started with the Development Team then moved up to the Europa Cup program," said Warman, who received her cancer diagnosis seven weeks ago following a routine mammogram. "I was working with Steven Nyman and Bryon Friedman when they got their first World Cup starts. I kind of became the mom for all these guys when they were younger."
"Bode has always been an extremely generous guy. I remember him buying U.S. Ski Team jackets for the Development Team a while ago," she recounted. "No one knew where they came from. Bode didn't want the credit, he just wanted to help out."
Along with Miller, Warman struck a particular friendship with Jake Zamansky (Aspen, CO), who began spearheading the auctions, which will also include items from Nyman, Friedman and three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA).
"Jake and I have always been really close because he and my oldest son share the same birthday, but all the guys know me really well," she said. "I just dropped them all a line asking if there was anything they could do to help and they immediately began putting things like this auction together."
"Pam is such a friend to so many members of our team," said Zamansky, a 2010 Olympian along with Miller and Nyman. "It was really easy for us to get moving on this. We are putting together what we can, but Bode's helmet was such a big item, we wanted to get that up right away. There will be more items that we'll auction down the line."
The signed helmet is the one Miller wore for his final Olympic race, the men's slalom on Feb. 27. The auction closes Wednesday, March 10 at 5:15 p.m. ET. A separate fund raiser is planed for Warman at Sierra at Tahoe on April 13. The event will feature a dual giant slalom with current and former members of the U.S. Ski Team, plus an auction and live music by Friedman.
Monday, March 01st, 2010 •
U.S. Ski Team News - Alpine
ASPEN, CO (Mar. 1) - Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, OR) stood on top of the super G podium Monday in the final NorAm Cup race at Aspen before NorAm Cup Finals. Ross commanded the field by over a half second.
Ross clinched another NorAm Cup win. Katie Hartman (Breckenridge, CO) trailed Ross to take second. Lauren Samuels (Golden Valley, MN) rounded out the top three in third.
Kirsten Cooper (Eagle, CO) was just of the podium in fourth. Cooper was joined by four other U.S. athletes in the top 15.
Aspen hosted the last NorAm Cup series before NorAm Cup Finals. Burke, VT and Waterville Valley, NH will host the event Mar. 14 - 18.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
NorAm Cup
Aspen, CO
March 1, 2010
Women's Super G
1. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:18.51
2. Katie Hartman, Breckenridge, CO, 1:19.07
3. Lauren Samuels, Golden Valley, MN, 1:19.97
4. Kirsten Cooper, Eagle, CO, 1:20.08
5. Victoria Stevens, Canada, 1:20.17
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7. Julia Ford, Plymouth, NH, 1:20.29
8. Brooke Wales, Sammamish, WA, 1:20.55
10. Anna Marno, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1:20.89
13. Abby Ghent, Edwards, CO, 1:21.27
DNF: Felicia Byers, Sandy, UT, Greta Byrne, Medford, NJ, Vanessa Berther, Bellevue, WA, Megan McJames, Park City, UT
# # #
Sunday, February 28th, 2010 •
U.S. Ski Team News - Alpine
ASPEN, CO (Feb. 28) - U.S. Alpine Ski Team and Olympic Team memeber Megan McJames (Park City, UT) crushed the field Sunday in Aspen's NorAm Cup super combined race. McJames was in second after the super G portion behind teammate Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, OR).
Ross was fierce in the first half of the super combined winning the super G by nearly a second. McJames laid down a solid run, placing herself in good position for the slalom. Julia Ford (Plymouth, NH) trailed Ross and McJames finishing third.
McJames laid down the fastest slalom run of the day clinching the super combined win. McJames was two seconds ahead of the field with Ford, the closest competitor, in second. Canada's Madison McLeish landed the third and final spot on the podium.
The women will race the final NorAm Cup race at Aspen on Monday.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
NorAm Cup
Aspen, CO
February 28, 2010
Women's Super G
1. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:15.70
2. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 1:16.53
3. Julia Ford, Plymouth, NH, 1:17.71
4. Georgia Simmerling, Canada, 1:17.77
5. Kirsten Cooper, Eagle, CO, 1:18.48
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6. Vanessa Berther, Bellevue, WA, 1:18.65
9. Brooke Wales, Sammamish, WA, 1:19.45
11. Abby Ghent, Edwards, CO, 1:20.25
12. Greta Byrne, Medford, NJ, 1:20.27
13. Katherine Ryan, Aspen, CO, 1:20.31
14. Shane Mclean, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1:20.42
DNF: Felicia Byers, Sandy, UT, Lauren Samuels, Golden Valley, MN, Anna Marno, Steamboat Springs, CO, Devin Delaney, North Conway, NH
Women's Super Combined
1. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 2:02.72
2. Julia Ford, Plymouth, NH, 2:04.60
3. Madison McLeish, Canada, 2:07.37
3. Georgia Simmerling, Canada, 2:07.37
5. Stephanie Irwin, Canada, 2:07.47
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6. Shane Mclean, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2:08.15
7. Brooke Wales, Sammamish, WA, 2:08.20
8. Mary Sackbauer, Vail, CO, 2:08.58
13. Avril Dunleavy, Salt Lake City, UT, 2:09.76
DNF: Kirsten Cooper, Eagle, CO, Greta Byrne, Medford, NJ, Vanessa Berther, Bellevue, WA, Felicia Byers, Sandy, UT, Lauren Samuels, Golden Valley, MN, Anna Marno, Steamboat Springs, CO, Devin Delaney, North Conway, NH
# # #
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 •
U.S. Ski Team News - Alpine
ASPEN, CO (Feb. 27) - Travis Ganong (Olympic Valley, CA) clinched the U.S. Alpine Championships downhill title on Saturday morning in Aspen. Ganong topped an impressive field of U.S. Ski Team members and Olympians including Steven Nyman (Sundane, UT), who finished second.
For the past several days, Aspen has been hosting NorAm Cup speed races with great weather and snow conditions. After holding several training runs and a pair of NorAm races on the hill, the course held up for the racers to compete for the downhill title.
"The weather was great, a little overcast but good visibility," said Ganong. "The track was amazing. It was super smooth, really good conditions."
Ganong, as well as the rest of the field, used the NorAm Cup training runs and races as valualbe time on the track before Saturday's title showdown.
"Every run you go down the hill, you get more comfortable with the track," said Ganong. "Every run helps."
Ganong edged out Nyman by a mere four hundredths, crowning him the 2010 U.S. downhill champion. Canada's Jan Hudec snuck into third, grabbing the final spot on the podium. Will Brandenburg (Spokane, WA) fresh off an impressive 11th in the Olympic super combined, and Chris Beckmann (Guildlander, NY) rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth.
The top juniors were Brennan Rubie (Salt Lake City, UT) and Ben Morse (Carabbassett Valley, ME). Rubie finished 19th overall followed by Morse in 23.
Ganong, along with many of the U.S. Alpine Ski Team members, will be heading to Europe for World Cup races within the next couple of days. Ganong hopes to carry his success across the ocean for the races in Norway.
"As far as confidence goes, I came into the season as an invitee and just had a lot of motivation to fire my skiing, which really helped me to get to where I am now, " explained Ganong. "Hopefully my confidence can carry over from here to there."
Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, NY will host the remaining disciplines for the U.S. Alpine Championships' at the end of March.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
U.S. Alpine Championships
Aspen, CO
February 27, 2010
Men's Downhill
1. Travis Ganong, Olympic Valley, CA, 1:35.67
2. Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 1:35.71
3. Jan Hudec, Canada, 1:35.81
4. Will Bradenburg, Spokane, WA, 1:36.40
5. Chris Beckmann, Guildlander, NY, 1:36.54
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9. Scott Macartney, Crystal Mountain, WA, 1:37.10
12. Joe Swensson, Niantic, CT, 1:37.51
14. Colby Granstrom, Lake Stevens, WA, 1:37.95
DNF: Nick Daniels, Tahoe City, CA, Will Gregorak, Longmont, CO
# # #
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 •
U.S. Ski Team News - Alpine
ASPEN, CO (Feb. 27) - Leanne Smith (Conway, NH) was crowned the U.S. champion in downhill in Aspen Saturday. Smith edged out teammates Stacey Cook (Mammoth, CA) and Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, OR) for the win.
"The weather was great today. We were all really psyched on how it turned out," said Smith. "It was a good race and the snow was great."
Smith laid down a time of 1:38.24 to top the solid field made up of past U.S. champions, Olympians, and U.S. Ski Team memebers only three tenths ahead of Cook with Ross a mere two tenths shy of Cook for the final podium spot.
"My run was good," explained Smith. "i had mistakes here and there, but I'm skiing more consistent."
The top juniors were Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Lauren Samuels (Golden Valley, MN). Marno posted a top-10 result overall in ninth, followed by Lauren Samuels (Golden Valley, MN) in 14th.
Smith will take her win with her, as she heads into the latter portion of the 2010 World Cup season for motivation and confidence.
"Today was a confidence booster, said Smith. "I'm happy to be the U.S. champion, I have't done that yet. It's exciting!"
The remaining disciplines for U.S. Alpine Championships will be held at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, NY at the end of March.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
U.S. Alpine Championships
Aspen, CO
February 27, 2010
Women's Downhill
1. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:38.24
2. Stacey Cook, Mammoth, CA, 1:38. 54
3. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 1:38.73
4. Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, CO, 1:39.11
5. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:39.59
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7. Julia Ford, Plymouth, NH, 1:40.59
8. Keely Kelleher, Big Sky, MT, 1:40.71
9. Anna Marno, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1:40.91
14. Lauren Samuels, Golden Valley, MN, 1:42.25
15. Kirsten Cooper, Eagle, CO, 1:42.50
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