GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Feb. 7, 2016) – The battle for the overall World Cup title heated up again on a warm, springlike day at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup as Switzerland’s Lara Gut got the best of Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) in Sunday’s Kandahar super G.

Vonn was gunning for World Cup win No. 77 following her commanding victory in Saturday’s downhill, but Gut, who finished a disappointing 14th Saturday, rebounded to take her 16th World Cup win. Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg, third in the downhill, finished second in the super G. Vonn settled for third Sunday after making a brilliant recovery five gates from the finish, when her right ski went airborne after hitting a bump in the snow.

“The snow was soft, like spring,” Vonn said. “I didn’t risk everything, I probably could have, but I feel like I’m older and wiser now, and to get to the finish healthy and be in third is still a pretty darn good day.

“I knew that I didn’t ski my best and I knew that I didn’t risk everything,” she added, “and that’s what it took today. Lara had a really good run, and she risked it all.”

With Sunday’s victory, Gut's 973 total points is now 87 points behind Vonn's 1060 points in the back-and-forth chase for the over World Cup title. Rebensburg is third overall with 820. Vonn also leads the World Cup super G standings by 99 points over Gut.

Lindsey Vonn stands on the podium with Lara Gut and Viktoria Rebensburg. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Christophe Pallot)

Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) scored her best super G finish of the season in 10th – it was also her third career top 10 World Cup super G result. For the rest of the Americans, Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) was 31st, Breezy Johnson (Salt Lake City, UT) 35th, Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) 36th, Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO) 39th and Abby Ghent (Edwards, CO) 44th.

Vonn, McKennis, Cook, Wiles and the coaching staff will be hanging out at the U.S. Military Base here in Garmisch with a big crew of Armed Forces and their families to watch the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

"The Broncos game is tonight and if they win, it’ll make up for my third place," Vonn said.

Up next for the women downhill and combined from Crans Montana, Switzerland Feb. 13-14. Crans Montana will also host women’s World Cup slalom, which replaces the cancelled Maribor event, on Monday, Feb. 15.  

HIGHLIGHTS

• Vonn continues to lead the overall World Cup standings by 87 points over Gut.
• Vonn broke the all-time super G podium record, previously held by Renate Goetschel, with her 42nd podium performance.
• Gut won her eighth career super G for her 16th career World Cup win.
• Vonn had won five-straight super G races, including all three so far this season, coming into Garmisch.
• Laurenne Ross scored her best super G finish of the season in 10th – it was also her third career top 10 World Cup super G result.
• Sunday’s super G will re-air on Universal HD at 2:30 p.m. EST.

QUOTES

Lindsey Vonn
It’s a good day at the office. The snow was soft—like spring. I didn’t risk everything today—I probably could have. But I’m older and wiser now and to get to the finish healthy and in third is still a pretty darn good day. The Broncos game is tonight and if they win, it’ll make up for my third place.

It’s a very good weekend. I can’t win ‘em all. I tried my best to ski my best ever day and I think I’ve done a pretty good job so far this season. Today was just not one of those days where I felt like putting it all on the line. I’ve had a great season so far and I want to keep it going. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)

Sunday, Feb. 7
2:30 p.m. - Women's super G, Garmisch - Universal HD

Saturday, Feb. 13
4:30 a.m. - Women's Downhill, Crans Montana - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
1:30 p.m. - Women's Downhill, Crans Montana - Universal HD

Sunday, Feb. 14
4:30 a.m. - Women's Combined Downhill, Crans Montana - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
7:30 a.m. - Women's Combined Slalom, Crans Montana - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
1:30 p.m. - Women's Combined, Crans Montana - Universal HD

RESULTS
Women’s super G

One week from today, Mikaela Shiffrin will be racing on the World Cup again – commencing her comeback at the rescheduled Maribor slalom in Crans Montana, Switzerland on Monday, Feb. 15.

After injuring her knee warming up for a race in December, Shiffrin has been rehabbing in Colorado—starting in the gym and recently training on snow at Loveland Mountain. But she is ready for Europe and plans on giving the World Cup a try.

"I love skiing, but to be honest, I just love ski racing," Shiffrin said to Denver Post reporter John Meyer. "The whole goal — my job and the reason I love this — is because eventually I'm going to get into a start gate and know I can win."

READ MORE ABOUT SHIFFRIN’S COMEBACK.

COURCHEVEL, France (Feb. 8, 2016) – A wide-eyed, talented group of US. Ski and Snowboard Association U16 National Training Group (NTG) athletes traveled to Courchevel, France to compete in the 7 Nations Cup last week, grabbing an experience of a lifetime and solid results – including a pair of podiums by Alix Wilkinson (Park City, UT) and AJ Hurt (Carnelian Bay, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team).

Though Mother Nature dumped fresh snow on the eve of both events, sunshine greeted on both race days and the race crew had a daunting task on their hands. In an almost World Cup-like fashion, a crew of 40 used a combination of machines and manpower to push all the fresh snow off the track. In the end, they were successful and the whole event went off without a hitch. “It was really first class,” reflected John Cashman, NTG U16 Head Coach.

Highlights included a victory by Wilkinson in the slalom, who beat the field by over a second, a second place finish by Hurt in the giant slalom, and a seventh place finish by Ben Ritchie (Waitsfield, VT; Green Mountain Valley School) in the slalom. Wilkinson was in fourth after the first run of giant slalom, and Ritchie was in third before both skied out second run. What was most gratifying for Cashman was to see Wilkinson and Hurt overcome mental challenges to lay down solid results. Hurt was having a great run in slalom before going out eight gates before the finish. That was “a little bit of a heartbreak,” as Cashman described it. But it didn’t seem to slow her down.

AJ Hurt stands on the podium at the 7 Nations Cup. 

One day before Wilkinson crushed the competition in slalom, she had a rough training day, and the day before the giant slalom, Hurt skied out in the slalom. “To see both athletes really step up to the plate, block all of that out and move forward was very impressive,” said Cashman. “Our athletes did really, really well – especially Alix and AJ. Alix, in slalom, just skied phenomenally. She was solid and balanced. And Ben is happy with his performance in slalom, and knows he can be right there in giant slalom, so he is happy. It was really, really good.”

Prior to the event, the U16s spent some valuable time training in Europe, experiencing just about every kind of weather and snow conditions possible, from full-on rain in Germany to a rock-hard surface in Kitzbuehel. Cashman believes this preparation enabled the group to feel comfortable in varied conditions and ultimately set them up for success in Courchevel at the 7 Nations Cup.

“The courses held up well here in Courchevel but I think they were just comfortable being here in Europe and it showed,” noted Cashman. “We had several other athletes that were in the flip each day and it was really good. As a whole, the group has some depth and there are some young ’01 birth years that garnered some really great experience being here.” This certainly bodes well for the future of alpine ski racing in the United States.

NTG U16s pose for a team picture in Courchevel.  

Now in its fourth season, the 7 Nations Cup is hosted by a different nation in Europe each year. It is a good international test for the U.S. U16 racers, with deep competition from the strong central European nations. The U.S. U16s now have five top-five finishes since the event’s inception.

QUOTES

John Cashman, USSA NTG U16 Head Coach
Our athletes did really, really well – especially Alix and AJ. Alix, in slalom, just skied phenomenally. She was solid and balanced. And Ben is happy with his performance in slalom, and knows he can be right there in giant slalom, so he is happy. It was really, really good.

The courses held up well here in Courchevel but I think they were just comfortable being here in Europe and it showed. We had several other athletes that were in the flip each day and it was really good. As a whole, the group has some depth and there are some young ’01 birth years that garnered some really great experience being here. 

RESULTS
Girls' Slalom
Boys' Slalom
Girls' Giant Slalom
Boys' Giant Slalom
 

You’ve read about Lindsey Vonn’s domination on the North American and European slopes this winter—win after win, podium after podium, breaking records with each victory. But what you might not have read about are Laurenne Ross’ sneaky successes.

Ross happens to be one of the most dynamic athletes on the U.S. Ski Team – not only is she fast and fearless on the mountain, but she is a holistically intriguing woman off the mountain who approaches everything she does in a very individual style...with Laurenne Ross-flair. She writes beautiful prose. She strums a guitar and sings with a voice so beautiful it will quiet the most restless of spirits. She takes stunning photos. She has a keen eye for beauty. She creates.

So it’s no surprise that Ross, a speed skier like Vonn, is always searching for ways to find and create speed, in her own, unique Laurenne kind of way. She loves big air and wishes there was more on the women’s circuit. She cuts line. She’s been quietly fast throughout the season, recently snagging a strong finish at Garmisch, finishing fifth among the highly competitive field.

“It didn’t feel super, but it was nice to know that I still have that speed and that I’m still fast,” said Ross after Garmisch. “It was a surprise, but it was nice to be fast again.”

Ross stands in the start gate. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Michel Cottin)

While Ross has only three top-10 results this season, almost every finish has been in the top 20 and has slotted her into 13th overall in downhill and 11th overall in super G standings—a solid positioning for Ross.

Ross also spoke highly of her teammate Vonn and the friendship they have forged over the years. “She’s very helpful to all of us. She’s a really good teammate,” said Ross. “It’s pretty amazing to be part of her team and part of the history that she’s making. Sometimes it can be a little bit embarrassing to get beat by that much, but it’s really cool to be a part of it. To be her friend, be there for her and to have her there for us is a really wonderful thing.”

But Ross isn’t done and she’s ready to move back to the podium, where she has stood once before in Garmisch in 2013. Watch out, World Cup.

YUZAWA NAEBA, Japan (Feb. 13, 2016) – David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) was the lone U.S. finisher in 26th on another warm, springlike day at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom Saturday.

“Whew, tough GS race today in extremely warm conditions,” Chodounsky wrote on his Instagram account. “Not the greatest race for me but still nice to be in the points!”

World Cup racing returned to the slopes of Yuzawa Naeba for the first time in 41 years as France went 1-2 with Alexis Pinturault taking the victory over teammate Mathieu Faivre. Italy’s Massimiliano Blardone finished third. Overall World Cup leader Marcel Hirscher finished sixth and leads Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who finished fourth, by 124 points. Hirscher also leads the overall World Cup giant slalom standings with five races remaining.

A technical track, combined with soft snow and warm temperatures, made for challenging conditions for many racers, including American Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV).

“I had a good run going … there was a bit of a compression and a little bit of a rut, and I just caught it pretty awkwardly and it shot me out onto my hip and unfortunately I had to come to a halt,” Jitloff said of his first-run mistake. “It’s disappointing to come all this way and not get any points, but we have five more GS races until the end of the season, so I have to regroup and think about the next one coming up in Hinterstoder (Austria).”

Up next, the men race slalom Sunday in Yuzawa Naeba. American’s scheduled to race include Chodounsky, Michael Ankeny (Deephaven, MN), Mark Engel (Truckee, CA), Robby Kelley (Starksboro, VT) and Tim Kelley (Starksboro, VT).

HIGHLIGHTS

• David Chodounsky was the top American finisher in 26th place.
• France’s Alexis Pinturault won his 11th World Cup race – his second career giant slalom victory.
• Austria’s Marcel Hirscher finished sixth to maintain his overall World Cup lead with 1045 points over Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen in second with 921 points.
• Saturday’s race was the first time in 41 years since the World Cup has taken place on the slopes of slopes of Yuzawa Naeba.
• Thirty-six-year-old Massimiliano Blardone’s third-place finish was his first World Cup podium in almost four years – he won the Crans Montana giant slalom on Feb. 26, 2012.

QUOTES

Tim Jitloff
I had a good run going … there was a bit of a compression and a little bit of a rut, and I just caught it pretty awkwardly and it shot me out onto my hip and unfortunately I had to come to a halt.

It’s disappointing to come all this way and not get any points, but we have five more GS races until the end of the season, so I have to regroup and think about the next one coming up in Hinterstoder (Austria).

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)

Saturday, Feb. 13
1:00 p.m. - Men's giant slalom, Yuzawa Naeba - Universal HD
8:00 p.m. - Men's SL1, Yuzawa Naeba - LIVE NBC Sports Live Extra
11:00 p.m. - Men's SL2, Yuzawa Naeba - LIVE NBC Sports Live Extra

Sunday, Feb. 14
12:00 p.m. - Men's slalom, Yuzawa Naeba - Universal HD

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (Feb. 13, 2016) – Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) will have to wait another 24 hours to go for World Cup win No. 77 as Saturday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhill was postponed after the Swiss resort received 40cm of new snow.

“Too much snow, race cancelled/postponed until tomorrow. Going to go POWDER skiing!!! Will try to control myself and not take too many runs.” Lindsey Vonn wrote on her Twitter account.

The downhill has been re-scheduled for Sunday (4:30 a.m. EST). The alpine combined event scheduled for Sunday has been cancelled and will not be replaced this season.

Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) returns to World Cup racing in Monday’s slalom (4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. EST), which was re-scheduled from Maribor, Slovenia.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)

Sunday, Feb. 14
4:30 a.m. - Women's downhill, Crans-Montana - NBC Sports Live Extra
5:30 p.m. - Women's downhill, Crans-Montana - Universal HD

Monday, Feb. 15
3:30 a.m. - Women's SL1, Crans-Montana - LIVE NBC Sports Live Extra
6:30 a.m. - Women's SL2, Crans-Montana - LIVE NBC Sports Live Extra
NOTE: Streaming coverage to be confirmed.
 

HAFJELL, Norway (Feb. 13, 2016) - River Radamus (Edwards, CO, U.S. Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) took the biggest victory of his young career, winning the men’s super G at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Saturday.

Pietro Canzio (Italy - left), River Radamus and Manuel Traninger (Austria) pose on the medal podium after men’s super G at the Youth Olympic Winter Games. (YIS/IOC-Jed Leicester)

"The course was pretty technical today," said Radamus. "There were a couple of really key spots that I think I nailed. I didn’t really go in with any sort of expectations - I knew that if I executed my lines and skied the way I wanted to, I would have a chance, but this is definitely a welcome surprise."

Competing on the Hafjell, Olympic Slope, Radamus edged out Italy’s Pietro Canzio for the gold by 0.03 seconds. Austria’s Manuel Traninger won the bronze. Radamus, who just turned 18 on Friday, is the current U.S Junior National slalom champion.

"The entire experience here has been really awe-inspiring and something I think I’ll always remember," said Radamus. "The fact that I got to go out and win a medal is something that I don’t think I’ll ever forget and something that I’ll be very proud of for a long time."

River Radamus won the men’s super G at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Saturday. (YIS/IOC-Arnt Folvik)

Radamus grew up in ski racing, with his father Aldo a former U.S. Ski Team coach and longtime head of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. Radamus moved up through the alpine development pipeline in the Vail club and into the USSA’s National Training Group program. He also attended the USSA TEAM Academy, the U.S. Ski Team’s program for high school aged athletes. He graduated from the Academy last year at the same time he was named to the U.S. Ski Team’s D team.

“This is a great result by River on a big stage against an international field of the best athletes his age,” said USSA Alpine Development Director Chip Knight. "It's shows our next generation is on track against the best in the world."

In the women’s super G, 16-year-old Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley, CA, National Training Group/Squaw Valley Ski Team) finished 10th. Austria won the gold and silver with Nadine Fest and Julia Scheib going 1-2. Switzerland’s Aline Danioth won the bronze.

Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world. Alpine events will include slalom, giant slalom, super G, downhill and alpine combined. The Games continue through February 21.

QUOTES

River Radamus
The course was pretty technical today. There were a couple of really key spots that I think I nailed. I didn’t really go in with any sort of expectations - I knew that if I executed my lines and skied the way I wanted to, I would have a chance, but this is definitely a welcome surprise. 

The entire experience here has been really awe-inspiring and something I think I’ll always remember. The fact that I got to go out and win a medal is something that I don’t think I’ll ever forget and something that I’ll be very proud of for a long time.

RESULTS
Men’s super G
Women’s super G

YUZAWA NAEBA, Japan (Feb. 14, 2016) – Things didn’t go according to plan for the U.S. men’s tech team on another warm and wet day at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom Sunday.

“Not the plan (today),” said David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) of his first run mistake, which eliminate any hope of a second run. “I was skiing well up top, and that was the plan. I wanted to charge...I just went a little too straight over that one roll…and my ski kind of slid out on the rut on the gate.”

Unfortunately, not one U.S. athlete qualified for a second run as Germany’s Felix Neureuther scored his first victory of the season by a scant 0.05 seconds over Sweden’s Andre Myhrer. Austria’s Marco Schwarz rounded out the podium in third.

Things didn’t exactly go according to plan for overall World Cup leader Marcel Hirscher of Austria either, as he straddled four gates into his first run. However, he still leads the overall standings by 88 points over Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who finished a disappointing seventh. Kristoffersen, who leads the overall World Cup slalom standings, has been dominant this season, winning six of eight slalom events.

This weekend marked the first time in 41 years that World Cup racing returned to the slopes of Yuzawa Naeba. Ironically, Neureuther’s father Christian was on the slalom podium 41 years ago – third behind legendary Swede Ingmar Stenmark, and Austria’s Hans Hinterseer.

Up next, the men race downhill and alpine combined in Chamonix, France, Feb. 19-20.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Germany’s Felix Neureuther scored his first victory of the season Sunday.
• Austria’s Marco Schwarz, competing in his second World Cup season, scored his second career podium. He also finished third in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy last season.
• World Cup overall leader Marcel Hirscher of Austria straddled four gates into his first run.
• Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, winner of six slalom races this season, tied for seventh.

QUOTES

David Chodounsky
Not the plan today. I was skiing well up top, and that was the plan. I wanted to charge...I just went a little too straight over that one roll…and my ski kind of slid out on the rut on the gate.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)

Sunday, Feb. 14
12:00 p.m. - Men's slalom, Yuzawa Naeba - Universal HD

RESULTS
Men’s slalom

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (Feb. 14, 2016) – The old saying has always been: “If you want a powder day, hold a downhill race!”

After more than 50cm of snow over the past two days, Sunday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhill, which was already rescheduled from Saturday, was cancelled due to unsafe snow conditions.

“The new snow just rotted the snow underneath and created an unstable, bally, hole-filled surface,” said Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR). “So it wasn’t safe for us to race on.”

Sunday’s downhill was cancelled after more than 50cm of snow fell in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Vianney Thibault)

So what is a racer to do when the race is cancelled? Bust out the powder skis of course!

“Face shots are the most rewarding thing in the world, other than coming through the finish of a sick downhill!” Ross said, as a few cheers erupted from her teammates in the background. “It was so nice to get to ski powder for a couple of days in a row, because we haven’t been able to do that all year. So, I finally got to use my new powder skis and slash some turns. So it was still a lovely week.”

“I think the powder skiing is a nice compensation for missing the races, so I’m happy with that,” added Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, CO).

 

A photo posted by Lindsey Vonn (@lindseyvonn) on

Feb 13, 2016 at 2:49am PST

The women’s speed team moves on to La Thuile, Italy for downhill and super G races Feb. 20-21 where Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) will go for World Cup win number 77. Ross also hopes to carry her momentum from last week’s fifth place downhill finish in Garmisch, Germany to the Italian Alps.

“I’m bummed that it was cancelled because I feel that I could be really fast on this hill, which I proved in the second training run,” said Ross, who finished third in Friday’s second downhill training run in Crans-Montana. “But, I’m going to take that into La Thuile, and take my momentum from Garmisch and try to send it there.”

The women enjoyed some fresh tracks in Crans-Montana. (USSA)

Up next though in Crans-Montana, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) returns to World Cup racing in Monday’s slalom (4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. EST), which was re-scheduled from Maribor, Slovenia.

QUOTES

Alice McKennis
It’s definitely disappointing to have a race cancelled, but conditions were really, really challenging. So I don’t think it would have been a safe or fair race.  They made the right call.

I think the powder skiing is a nice compensation for missing the races, so I’m happy with that.

Laurenne Ross
It was not really possible (to race) today given the conditions. The new snow just rotted the snow underneath and created an unstable, bally, hole-filled surface. So it wasn’t safe for us to race on.

I’m bummed that it was cancelled because I feel that I could be really fast on this hill, which I proved in the second training run. But, I’m going to take that into La Thuile and take my momentum from Garmisch and try to send it there.

Face shots are the most rewarding thing in the world, other than coming through the finish of a sick downhill! It was so nice to get to ski powder for a couple of days in a row, because we haven’t been able to do that all year. So, I finally got to use my new powder skis and slash some turns. So it was still a lovely week.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)

Monday, Feb. 15
3:30 a.m. - Women's SL1, Crans-Montana - LIVE NBC Sports Live Extra
6:30 a.m. - Women's SL2, Crans-Montana - LIVE NBC Sports Live Extra
NOTE: Streaming coverage to be confirmed.
 

HAFJELL, Norway (Feb. 14, 2016) - River Radamus (Edwards, CO, U.S. Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) doubled-up Sunday at the Olympic Youth Winter Games, grabbing his second gold medal of the Games in the alpine combined.

“The first (gold) came definitely as a shock,” Radamus said. “To win two in two days, is pretty awesome.”

Gold medal winner River Radamus during the slalom portion of the alpine combined at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Sunday. (YIS/IOC-Arnt Folvik)

Fresh off his super G victory Saturday, Radamus once again grabbed gold in the combined super G/slalom event, this time by 0.07 seconds over Austria’s Manuel Traninger, who also took the bronze in Saturday’s super G. Italy’s Peitro Canzio, silver medalist in the super G, added a bronze medal in the combined.

Radamus won the morning super G by 0.89 seconds over Italy’s Michael Tedde, who eventually finished 10th. However, a slight mistake near the finish of the slalom almost cost him a shot at the gold.

“I cross-blocked a little funky and I never really got it back until the second to last gate,” he said of losing his right pole. “I built a lead after the first run and I needed every hundredth (of a second) there in the end to win.”

Radamus, who commended the race crew for providing a perfect course for Sunday’s race, is scheduled to compete in Wednesday’s giant slalom and Thursday’s slalom events. But despite the pressure of already winning two races, he is excited just to soak up the experience.

“In the last couple of days, I’ve been skiing really well, just in freeskiing and training, and obviously in the races,” he said. “And I think I’m in a really good spot mentally; I’ve got confidence in my skiing and what I’m able to do, and I’m not putting any expectations on myself for the rest of the events, but I like where I’m at.”

In the women’s event, Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley, CA, 16, National Training Group/Squaw Valley Ski Team) was the only American and failed to finish the slalom portion. Switzerland won the gold and silver with Aline Danioth and Melanie Meillard going 1-2. Germany’s Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger won the bronze.

River Radamus rocks the super G en-route to another gold medal at the Youth Olympic Winter Games Sunday. (YIS/IOC-Arnt Folvik)

Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world. Alpine events will include slalom, giant slalom, super G, downhill and alpine combined. The Games continue through February 21.

HIGHLIGHTS

• River Radamus became the first U.S. athlete to win two gold medals at the Youth Olympic Winter Games.
• Radamus is also the current U.S Junior National slalom champion.
• Alpine racing at the Youth Olympic Winter Game continues Wednesday with the giant slalom.
• Live broadcasts, event and daily highlights are available on the Youth Olympic Winter Games YouTube Channel.

QUOTES

River Radamus
I cross-blocked a little funky and I never really got it back until the second to last gate. I built a lead after the first run and I needed every hundredth (of a second) there in the end to win.

I came into the Games with no expectations whatsoever. I had an idea of where I’m ranked … but I’ve never raced against any of these guys. I just wanted to come here and have fun and take in the entire experience and just let whatever happens, happen.

The first (gold) came definitely as a shock. To win two in two days is pretty awesome.

In the last couple of days, I’ve been really well, just in freeskiing and training, and obviously in the races. And I think I’m in a really good spot mentally, I’ve got confidence in my skiing and what I’m able to do and I’m not putting any expectations on myself for the rest of the event, but I like where I’m at.

RESULTS
Men’s alpine combined
Women’s alpine combined
 

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (Feb. 15, 2016) – Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) returned from injury to dominate the Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom Monday, taking her 18th World Cup victory.

“That was a pretty incredible race,” said Shiffrin, who suffered a knee injury warming up for a race in December. “I’m glad it’s over, but I enjoyed skiing that last run, it was really rough and a challenge at every single gate. It was just bumpy and a wild ride – tough, but a good fight, and that’s the way it should be."
 

Mikaela Shiffrin charges en route to her 18th career World Cup victory Monday in Crans-Montana. (Getty Images/AFP-Fabrice Coffrini)

Proving that her rehab and training over the past couple of weeks had prepared her to return to top form, Shiffrin soaked up the first run sunshine and support from an enthusiastic crowd cheering her to the finish. She cruised into the first-run lead by 0.27 seconds.

“I was really nervous for the first run,” she said. “So nervous that I thought I left my legs at the start. But the second run was better, I felt like I was back in the groove.”

Mikaela Shiffrin slays her first run.

And indeed she was! Starting as the final racer in the second run, Shiffrin watched as racer after racer battled deteriorating course conditions and visibility issues as clouds shrouded the upper portion of the course. In dominating fashion though, she extended her first-run advantage through the rutted course and cruised to victory by 0.45 over France’s Nastasia Noens. Marie-Michele Gagnon of Canada finished third.

“There were some scrappy turns … none of the girls skied their best, and I didn’t ski my best,” Shiffrin said of the challenging course conditions. “It was just one of those things where you had to be really mentally tough, and I’m glad my mental side is there, because that component is tough to get back.”

Resi Stiegler posted her best World Cup result of the season Monday in Crans-Montana (Getty Images/AFP-Fabrice Coffrini)

Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) skied to her best slalom result of the season in eighth.

“I feel awesome,” Stiegler said. “But I’m still hungry for more. I wasn’t totally satisfied with today, but I’m very, very happy. Starting the second run with a better position for getting toward the podium is huge for me.”

Lila Lapanja (Incline Village, NV) showed significant promise starting 43rd in the first run, skiing to a 17th place first run finish. However, she got caught in a rut on the top section of the course, straddled, and failed to finish.

Shiffrin skis to the win.

“I didn’t want to ski to finish for just points,” Lapanja said. “I just wanted to go, and go and go. I went a little too direct tactically where I needed to give a little bit. So, it didn’t work out, but the mental approach is getting pretty strong and I definitely can’t wait until Jasna (Slovakia, March 5-6).”

Up next, the women’s tour moves to La Thuile, Italy for two downhill races – including a make-up from Crans-Montana – and a super G race Feb. 20-21, then to Soldeu-El Tarter, Andorra for super G and alpine combined events Feb. 27-28. Jasna, Slovakia will host giant slalom and slalom events on March 5-6.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin won her 18th career World Cup race, equaling former U.S. Ski Team member Tamera McKinney’s World Cup total. She is second among U.S. Ski Team women behind Lindsey Vonn, who has 76 World Cup wins.
• This was Shiffrin’s third slalom win of the season. She also won both slalom events in Aspen, CO.
• Resi Stiegler scored her best slalom result of the season in eighth place.
• Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) also competed for the U.S., though she failed to finish the first run.

QUOTES

Mikaela Shiffrin
That was a pretty incredible race. I’m glad it’s over, but I enjoyed skiing that last run, it was really rough and a challenge at every single gate. It was just bumpy and a wild ride – tough, but a good fight, and that’s the way it should be.

It’s good to be back! I was really nervous for the first run. So nervous that I thought I left my legs at the start. But the second run was better, I felt like I was back in the groove.

I felt like I was training well in the last week, but I wasn’t sure if I could bring good skiing out in this race. There were some scrappy turns … none of the girls skied their best, and I didn’t ski my best. It was just one of those things where you had to be really mentally tough, and I’m glad my mental side is there, because that component is tough to get back.

My goals for the end of the season are just to see how many races I can win, or how well I can do in every race. I have an opportunity to branch out a little bit, maybe focus more on GS now before Jasna. Hopefully both my GS and slalom will be up to par and it will be a good end of the season.

Lila Lapanja
I didn’t want to ski to finish for just points. I just wanted to go, and go and go. I went a little too direct tactically where I needed to give a little bit. So, it didn’t work out, but the mental approach is getting pretty strong and I definitely can’t wait until Jasna.

Resi Stiegler celebrates in the finish after taking her best finish this season.

Resi Stiegler
I feel awesome. But I’m still hungry for more. I wasn’t totally satisfied with today, but I’m very, very happy. Starting the second run with a better position for getting toward the podium is huge for me.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

HAFJELL, Norway (Feb. 16, 2016) – Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley, CA, 16, National Training Group/Squaw Valley Ski Team) grabbed 15^th place Tuesday in the giant slalom at the Youth Olympic Winter Games.

The giant slalom podium featured Switzerland’s Melanie Meillard finishing first, with Germany’s Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger finishing second and Switzerland’s Aline Danioth rounding out the podium in third.

“Snow was bullet proof and it was an excellent race,” said women’s NTG head coach Thomas Erhard. “Great learning experience for her at a major Championship.”

One of the top skiers in the world in her age group, Cashman also finished 10th in the super G on Saturday. Onward and upward, Cashman will now look ahead to Thursday’s slalom.

On Monday, the athletes of the Youth Olympic Games received a visit from a very special guest, Youth Olympic Games Ambassador Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO). When the all-time winningest female alpine ski racer is not busy winning Audi FIS Ski World Cups – her win tally is now 76 – she enjoys spending time off the mountain helping to inspire and encourage the next generation of champions.

U.S. athletes pose for a selfie with the Olympic Champion Lindsey Vonn at the Youth Olympic Village during the Youth Olympic Winter Games on Monday in Lillehammer, Norway. (YIS/IOC-Thomas Lovelock)

Vonn’s advice for athletes included everything from encouraging athletes to enjoy the entire Games experience to finding a hero to inspire them. Of course, she also advised athletes to get a dog, as Vonn just purchased her third puppy, a King Charles Cavalier named Lucy.

Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world. Alpine events will include slalom, giant slalom, super G, downhill and alpine combined. The Games continue through February 21.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Keely Cashman was 15^th in Tuesday’s giant slalom.
• Cashman finished 10th in the Youth Olympic Winter Games super G on Saturday, and failed to finish the slalom portion of the Alpine Combined on Monday.
• One of the top Cashman is currently ranked seventh on the FIS list for world age group rankings.
• Alpine racing at the Youth Olympic Winter Game continues Wednesday, when River Radamus (Edwards, CO, U.S. Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) will be going for a third gold in the men’s giant slalom.
• The action continues for the women on Thursday with slalom.
• Live broadcasts, event and daily highlights are available on the Youth Olympic Winter Games YouTube Channel. 

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom
 

HAFJELL, Norway (Feb. 17, 2016) – River Radamus (Edwards, CO, U.S. Ski Team/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) grabs the hat trick Wednesday at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, with his third gold medal of the Games in the giant slalom.

Lindsey Vonn, Ambassador for the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games, poses for a photograph with River Radamus during her visit to the Games Monday. (YIS/IOC-Thomas Lovelock)

With this win, Radamus becomes the first skier or snowboarder in history to win three individual gold medals - and his mother was even there to witness him make history. After grabbing the super G and alpine combined golds, Radamus was riding a high and carried the momentum into the giant slalom where he won by 1.07 seconds over Japan’s Yohei Koyama. Germany’s Anton Grammel took home the bronze medal.

River Radamus skis to his third gold medal of the Winter Youth Olympic Games in the giant slalom Thursday. (YIS/IOC-Simon Bruty)

Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world. Alpine events will include slalom, giant slalom, super G, downhill and alpine combined. The Games continue through February 21.

 

A photo posted by Sarah Schleper (@degalaxy) on

Feb 17, 2016 at 5:04am PST

  Former U.S. Ski Team member and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail athlete Sarah Schleper de Gaxiola, who now skis for Team Mexico, was on hand to grab this picture. The caption reads, "Proud mama! 3 races 3 GOLD ‪#‎hattrick‬ @lillehammer2016 ‪#‎Lillehammer2016‬‪#‎iloveyog‬ A star is rising."  

HIGHLIGHTS

• River Radamus became the first skier or snowboarder in history to win three individual gold medals in the Youth Olympic Games.
• Radamus also won the super G and alpine combined events at the Youth Olympic Games.
• Alpine racing continues Thursday with the women’s slalom, where Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley, CA, 16, National Training Group/Squaw Valley Ski Team) will compete. The men will ski slalom on Friday.
• Radamus is also the current U.S Junior National slalom champion.
• Live broadcasts, event and daily highlights are available on the Youth Olympic Winter Games YouTube Channel.

QUOTES

Chad Wolk, Youth Olympic Games and Men's FIS NTG Coach
Today was a special day! River has been building confidence in his skiing since the day he arrived.

Although the super G and alpine combined wins were great, River had high expectations for the giant slalom. He has had some strong training sessions leading up to today's performance. Early in the day he seemed nervous about the added pressure of the previous day's success, but found a way to let go of the external and focus on what he needed to do in order to go fast.

Both courses were challenging, the first run was pretty offset with consistent swing, and the second run had multiple rhythm changes and demanding changes of direction. River executed his tactical approach to a tee. We couldn't be happier for him.

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom

Towering at 6’4”, not only is Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) a physical specimen and American Downhiller beast, but he also happens to be one of the kindest, most genuine souls on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup tour. A gentle giant, if you will. The three-time World Cup winner – the Val Gardena master – and three-time Olympian is no stranger to success on the mountain, though Nyman knows success off the mountain is just as – if not more – important.

Growing up in Sundance, UT in a tight-knit family of four boys with wonderful parents, the idea of “family” and the notion of character was something engrained into Nyman before he knew how to walk or talk. And as a family, the Nymans grew up on the mountain. His parents, Scott and Becky Nyman, run a ski shop. Skiing is in Nyman’s blood and surges through his pores. Knowing the sport was extremely expensive, Nyman thought there must be a way to get more kids out on the mountain to experience the joy he felt while skiing, but couldn’t necessarily afford it.

“Years ago I had this idea. Basically every ski town is supported by a smaller town, but the residents of that town can’t afford to ski because skiing is so expensive,” said Nyman. “So why can’t we, wherever we’re having U.S. Nationals, stay an extra day, get those kids to come up? We could teach them how to ski and give them the opportunity via our supporters and sponsors. At the time, no one really bought the idea, but then I learned about SOS Outreach and this is essentially what they’re doing.”

(Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)

Fast forward to this past fall, when Nyman became the first SOS Outreach athlete ambassador in the organization’s 22nd year on snow. SOS introduces underprivileged youth to outdoor adventures including skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing and mountain biking. Along the way, SOS helps youth build healthy, active lifestyles through service learning projects, goal setting, life skills workshops, core values and positive adult mentorship. As a result, kids who would otherwise be struggling to overcome the challenges they face are on a trajectory for long-term success.

SOS Outreach CEO Seth Ehrlich knows Johnny Alamo, Nyman’s agent. They found common ground by starting the Peter Johnson Legacy Fund, partnering with SOS Outreach to serve underprivileged youth with mentorship and leadership in the outdoors. Peter Johnson was a former racer and a close friend of Alamo.

“Their program is unique and it’s very similar to my original idea. I’m very happy to work with them,” noted Nyman. “SOS has a great mission and excellent track record of serving at-risk youth. I am proud to be their first-ever athlete ambassador fostering inspiration for these kids.”

What’s next for Nyman with SOS? This spring he’ll do his first on-snow programs with kids. Until then, SOS plans to partner with the Peter Johnson Foundation to host the Talons Challenge at Beaver Creek Resort on Saturday, February 20, 2016. Online registration and event details can be found on their website. The Talons Challenge is an event that Johnson loved skiing in and combines his legacy of perseverance, athleticism and giving back to the community. SOS Outreach has served as the beneficiary of Talon’s Challenge since the inception of the event. 

Although Steven will not be present at the Talons Challenge this weekend, he’s excited to continue working with the SOS Outreach program. Who knows, maybe one of the kids will take his place on the World Cup some day.

About SOS Outreach
SOS Outreach introduces more than 5,000 youth each year to skiing and snowboarding. Since it was founded in 1993, it has introduced more than 45,000 youth to the mountains. SOS Outreach offers programs at 31 mountain resorts in six states. SOS recently expanded programs to Park City, enabling SOS Outreach to connect with at-risk youth in Salt Lake City. Participants face a variety of challenges, including failing grades, low-income households and single-parent families. Along with the opportunity to experience mountain adventure sports, SOS programs puts kids together with positive adult mentors that offer encouragement and act as positive role models for youth.

PARK CITY, UT (Feb. 17, 2016) – The road to Sochi looks slightly different but not any less promising in 2016 as the 2014 Olympic Games venue plays host to the 2016 FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has named a group of 12 elite athletes to compete at the 2016 Junior World Ski Championship scheduled for Feb. 24-Mar. 5 at Rosa Khutor in Sochi, Russia. Each athlete heralds from top USSA club programs across the country including Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID), currently ranked second in Europa Cup downhill standings and first in NorAm downhill standings, Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA), who is currently ranked fourth for the NorAm overall title and Drew Duffy (Warren, VT), currently ranked fifth in NorAm super G and the surprise U.S. National Champion in super G in 2015.

The team will look to carry the momentum from last year’s Junior World Ski Championships and build upon solid podiums posted by Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN), who won gold in slalom and AJ Ginnis (Waitsfield, VT), who took bronze in the slalom. Last year, the team was ninth in the standings for the Marc Hodler trophy for overall team performance.

The 2016 Junior Worlds will include men’s and women’s downhill, super G, alpine combined, slalom, giant slalom and team event. Live timing will be provided by FIS.

Follow the U.S. Ski Team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.

2016 FIS ALPINE JUNIOR WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Name (Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Men
Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA; U.S. Ski Team C Team, Squaw Valley Ski Team; 9/3/96)
Drew Duffy (Warren, VT; U.S. Ski Team C Team, Green Mountain Valley School; 6/1/95)
Patrick Kenney (Hingham, MA; U.S. Ski Team D Team, Burke Mountain Academy; 2/13/97)
Alex Leever (Vail, CO; U.S. Ski Team National University Team, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 7/6/95)
Sam Morse (Carrabassett Valley, ME; U.S. Ski Team D Team, Carrabassett Valley Academy; 5/27/96)
Florian Szwebel (Avon, CO; National Training Group, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 9/4/96)

Women
Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID; U.S. Ski Team D Team, Rowmark Ski Academy; 1/19/96)
Patricia Mangan (Derby, NY; U.S. Ski Team D Team, National Training Group, Holimont Racing Club; 3/7/97)
Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA; U.S. Ski Team D Team, Stratton Mountain School; 10/5/96)
Nina O’Brien (Edwards, CO; U.S. Ski Team C Team, National Training Group, Burke Mountain Academy; 11/29/97)
Nellie Rose Talbot (Vail, CO; National Training Group, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/24/99)
Galena Wardle (Basalt, CO; U.S. Ski Team D Team, National Training Group, Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; 4/24/98)

HIGHLIGHTS

• A group of 12 young athletes will compete Feb. 24-Mar. 5 at the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships at Rosa Khutor in Sochi, Russia, home of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Each racer is a member of the National Training Group or the U.S. Ski Team’s C, D and National University Teams.
• Medals will be awarded for downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom, alpine combined, team event and the Marc Hodler trophy for overall team performance.
• Last year, the team was ninth in the standings for the Marc Hodler trophy for overall team performance.

QUOTES

Chip Knight, Alpine Development Director, USSA
Congratulations to all the athletes who have earned the right to be on this year’s World Junior Championships team. This is an experienced group of young athletes with some outstanding Continental Cup results to their names so far this year. As a nation, we will be aiming for podium performances and a strong showing overall in the Hodler Cup. 

SCHEDULE
Feb. 27 – Men’s and women’s downhill
Feb. 28 – Men's super G
Feb. 29 – Women’s super G
Mar. 1 – Men’s and women’s alpine combined
Mar. 2 – Team event
Mar. 3 – Men’s and women’s slalom
Mar. 4 – Women’s giant slalom
Mar. 5 – Men’s giant slalom

MORE INFORMATION
RASSF: Sport Events

HAFJELL, Norway (Feb. 17, 2016) – Keely Cashman (Squaw Valley, CA, 16, National Training Group/Squaw Valley Ski Team) had another solid finish at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, taking 13th in Thursday’s slalom.

Aline Danioth of Switzerland grabbed her fourth YOG medal in four races, dominating the field by 1.59 seconds. Following Danioth was Ali Nullmeyer of Canada in second and Meta Hrovat of Slovenia in third.

Cashman has finished in the top 15 of each YOG event she has competed, taking 14th in giant slalom and 10th in super G.

“Keely has gained great experience from this amazing international championship against a strong field,” said women’s FIS NTG coach Thomas Erhard. “She has performed as one of the top two (in her age class) in all the races. She never gave up on tough courses with slick conditions, showing the fight it will take to progress!”

Modeled after the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games debuted its winter event in 2012 at Innsbruck, Austria. Held every four years, the Youth Olympic Winter Games feature more than 1,100 athletes aged 15 to 18, from around the world. Alpine events have included slalom, giant slalom, super G and alpine combined. The Games continue through February 21.

Next up for alpine racing, River Radamus (Edwards, CO) will go for a clean sweep of gold medals in Friday’s men’s slalom, followed by a parallel mixed team event on Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Keely Cashman finished 13th in the Youth Olympic Games slalom.
• The first run of giant slalom had 56 athletes from 48 different nations competing. There were nine different nations in the top 10.
• Cashman has been top 15 in each YOG event she has finished, taking 14th in giant slalom and 10th in super G.
• Alpine racing continues Friday with the men’s slalom, when River Radamus goes for a clean sweep of all alpine gold medals.
• Live broadcasts, event and daily highlights are available on the Youth Olympic Winter Games YouTube Channel.

QUOTES

Thomas Erhard – Women’s FIS NTG Coach
Keely has gained great experience from this amazing international championship against a strong field.  She has performed as one of the top two YOB 99 in all the races. She never gave up on tough courses with slick conditions, showing the fight it will take to progress! 

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

CHAMONIX, France (Feb. 18, 2016) – The sun was shining down on Les Grand Montets and the American Downhillers on Tuesday. It was the perfect bluebird start to an exciting week of ski racing, as the Audi FIS Ski World Cup returns to the ski Mecca of Chamonix after a four-year hiatus and the crew is excited to be back on Chamonix soil.

The men will take on Chamonix’s Kandahar this weekend in alpine combined and downhill. Watch out for Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT), fresh off a podium at Jeongseon, South Korea. He was the fastest Thursday with Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) 11th and Jared Goldberg (Holladay, UT) 15th. But keep an eye out for the consistently strong Attacking Viking, Kjetil Jansrud who has again finished in the top five in both of this week’s training runs. Hometown favorite, Frenchman Guillermo Fayed, his teammate Adrien Theaux, Austria’s Hannes Reichelt and Canadian Erik Guay will also be solid competitors.

After finishing ninth in the Kitzbuehel alpine combined, Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, CA) participated in his first-ever bib draw tonight and he was stoked. When asked what two details about Chamonix he likes the most, Bennett responded with, “These beautiful mountains…and the Aiguille du Midi.” The view is certainly nothing short of inspiring. On Wednesday’s training run, the start of the race venue at Les Houches sat above the clouds and created one of the more stunning spectacles the men have laid eyes on this season. It’s magical.

The American Downhillers have tasted victory here in Chamonix in the past, with victories by Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) in the combined twice and Sullivan in the downhill. Sullivan, who studied the French language in school, loves Chamonix and says it feels a little bit like home to him. It certainly seems like he’s finding his stride, laying down some fast skiing in the second and final training run today.

Just across the border in La Thuile, Italy, the women will race two downhills – one a make-up from Crans-Montana – and a super G. This will be the first-ever World Cup race in La Thuile, and they’re more than ready for it. The music was blaring in the finish during the training days and the excitement is palpable. It’s no surprise that Italy agrees with Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) – in fact, she has won the last two World Cup downhill races on Italian snow. Viva Italia and viva Vonn! She sits 87 points ahead of Switzerland’s Lara Gut, with 1,060 points to Gut’s 973 points.

Vonn was .89 ahead of teammate Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) in the first downhill training run. In today’s training run, Vonn was experimenting with the line and her skis, and ended up 13th, while teammate McKennis was again the second fastest. Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) was fourth and Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) eighth. Though the Speed Unicorns stacked the top 10 in training, it will be a challenge to fend off those feisty and fast Italians. Also watch out for Lichtenstein’s Tina Weirather and Austria’s Cornelia Huetter.

Chamonix (AC, DH) Starters
Bryce Bennett – AC, DH
Jared Goldberg – AC, DH
Wiley Maple – AC, DH
Steven Nyman – AC, DH
Marco Sullivan – DH
Andrew Weibrecht – AC, DH

La Thuile (2 DH, SG) Starters
Stacey Cook – DH, SG
Abby Ghent – SG
Anna Marno – SG
Alice McKennis – DH, SG
Laurenne Ross – DH, SG
Lindsey Vonn – DH, SG
Jackie Wiles – DH, SG

QUOTES

Steven Nyman
I definitely had some things I had to fix (after the first training run) … I thought I skied fairly well the whole way down. But there are definitely some sections I can improve on, but nothing major. So we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

Marco Sullivan
The track is quite a bit better than yesterday. The snow was hard and it got colder overnight and the track is good. It was a legitimate training run, so we’re ready for the race.

The top section is really technical … then it goes a bit flat. A longer flat than we see on most courses. So it’s really important to carry speed off the top sections and be good in those transitions before the flat section.

Right now I feel pretty strong, and I’ve got good history on this course (won in 2008), and I’m excited to race.

Lindsey Vonn
I tried some different things with my line today, and tried different skis. I thought some parts worked, but others didn’t, so I have to change a few things for tomorrow, but I really like the course, so I’m ready.

Alice McKennis
In some parts it ran differently than I expected, but it was fun. I think it will get faster … and it will be perfect by race day.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)
Friday, Feb. 19
4:30 a.m. - Men's combined downhill, Chamonix - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
6:00 a.m. - Women's downhill, La Thuile - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
8:00 a.m. - Men's combined slalom, Chamonix - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
3:30 p.m. - Men's alpine combined, Chamonix - Universal HD
11:00 p.m. - Women's downhill, La Thuile - Universal HD

Saturday, Feb. 20
4:30 a.m. - Men's downhill, Chamonix - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
6:00 a.m. - Women's downhill, La Thuile - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
4:00 p.m. - Men's downhill, Chamonix - Universal HD

Sunday, Feb. 21
5:00 a.m. - Women's super G, La Thuile - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
6:00 p.m. - Women's super G, La Thuile - Universal HD

RESULTS
Men’s downhill training 1
Men’s downhill training 2
Women’s downhill training 1
Women’s downhill training 2
 

LA THUILE, Italy (Feb. 19, 2016) – Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) threw down a clean and strong run to take fifth place and lead the Americans in the La Thuile downhill. Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) lost a ski and did not finish the race.

“It feels good to be in the top five again,” Ross said. “I am feeling more comfortable now than I have all year, and that confidence is building with time and results.”

It was the first time the Audi FIS Ski World Cup tour visited the challenging and steep La Thuile track. The snow was grippy and dry, allowing the ladies to pick up speed and crank sweeping turns. Even with a big mistake, Lara Gut of Switzerland dominated the field, winning by more than a second over Austrian Cornelia Huetter. Nadia Fanchini of Italy grabbed a podium spot in front of the home crowd, finishing in third.

Lindsey Vonn crashes out downhill Friday in La Thuile, Italy. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alain Grosclaude)

Vonn was looking for her 77th World Cup win, but it was not her day, as her outside ski rattled off at the top of the course. Vonn’s DNF coupled with Gut’s victory slotted Gut back into the top position for the overall World Cup title.

“I was getting a little bit bounced by the ice there and I was a little bit inside with my body position and my ski just came off,” Vonn said. “I’m definitely disappointed. I thought I was skiing really well. That’s pretty much the one thing, besides the weather, that you can’t control. I did my job, and hopefully tomorrow my skis will do their job. I’m definitely going to be fired up for tomorrow.”

Laurenne Ross lands in fifth place.

After finishing fifth in Garmisch at the beginning of February, Ross showed that she can consistently break into the top 10. She found speed all the way down the La Thuile course, displaying her strength and finesse to take fifth.

Behind Ross, all the finishing American women grabbed World Cup points. Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO) was 16th, Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) 19th and Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) 20th.

Next up, the ladies race downhill again on Saturday, followed by super G on Sunday.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Laurenne Ross led the Americans in fifth place. Her finish ties her best downhill result in the 2015-16 season.
• Lindsey Vonn crashed in the downhill and DNFed. Lara Gut took over the overall World Cup lead by 13 points.
• Vonn still leads the World Cup downhill title chase.
• The downhill was a make up race from the canceled Crans-Montana downhill last week.
• Watch Universal HD’s replay of the downhill at 11:00 p.m. ET.
• The women race downhill again in La Thuile on Saturday with super G Sunday.

Lindsey Vonn crashes in the downhill.

QUOTES

Laurenne Ross
It feels good to be in the top five again. I am feeling more comfortable now than I have all year, and that confidence is building with time and results.

There are some sections of the course that I can clean up, so I know there is more speed to be had. It was a bit rougher today, with more bumps and ice patches through the difficult portions, but its only going to get rougher tomorrow … might be a wild ride!

I really enjoy this course and am looking forward to another run on it tomorrow. Also, my dad is here to cheer me on, so that definitely makes me faster!

Lindsey Vonn
I was getting a little bit bounced by the ice there and I was a little bit inside with my body position and my ski just came off.

I’m definitely disappointed. I thought I was skiing really well. That’s pretty much the one thing, besides the weather, that you can’t control. I did my job, and hopefully tomorrow my skis will do their job. I’m definitely going to be fired up for tomorrow.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)
Friday, Feb. 19
11:00 p.m. - Women's downhill, La Thuile - Universal HD

Saturday, Feb. 20
6:00 a.m. - Women's downhill, La Thuile - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra

Sunday, Feb. 21
5:00 a.m. - Women's super G, La Thuile - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
6:00 p.m. - Women's super G, La Thuile - Universal HD

RESULTS
Women’s downhill
 

CHAMONIX, France, (Feb. 19, 2016) – Jared Goldberg (Holladay, UT) and Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, CA) patiently waited out Mother Nature’s antics Friday to score World Cup points at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup combined event.

France’s Alexis Pinturault won the event, with Italy’s Dominik Paris in second. Thomas Mermillod Blondin of France was third. Goldberg finished 20th, while Bennett was 21st.

Bryce Bennett grabbed more World Cup points, finishing 21st in the alpine combined. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alexis Boichard)

Forecasters were calling for 3cm of snow, but when racers woke up Friday morning, the snow was coming down hard, forcing organizers to flip the schedule and run the slalom in the morning and the downhill in the afternoon.

“Mother Nature presented an enormous challenge today,” said U.S. men’s head coach Sasha Rearick. “Thirty centimeters of snowfall, fog. The course workers, the cat drivers, everyone just worked really well to pull it off.”

Bryce Bennett bashed gates in the slalom portion of the alpine combined.

Up next, the men compete in downhill Saturday in Chamonix, 4:30 a.m. EST.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pinturault moved into the overall alpine combined World Cup lead with his victory Friday.
• Jared Goldberg finished 20th with Bryce Bennett 21st.
• Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) was the only other American starter and did not finish the slalom.
• Next up, the men race downhill Saturday in Chamonix. Watch live on NBC Sports Live Extra at 4:30 a.m. ET

Jared Goldberg skied to the sixth fastest downhill time.

QUOTES

Sasha Rearick – men’s head coach
Mother Nature presented an enormous challenge today. Thirty centimeters of snowfall, fog. The course workers, the cat drivers, everyone just worked really well to pull it off.

For the U.S. Ski Team, and our boys, today the slalom was not the performance we wanted to see. On our side, we have not trained enough slalom … today was a very easy course set and all about skiing with confidence and sending it down the hill.

In the downhill, I thought Jared and Bryce did a favorable job. Jared put down the sixth fastest time in the downhill and that was a good step forward for him.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)

Saturday, Feb. 20
4:30 a.m. - Men's downhill, Chamonix - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
4:00 p.m. - Men's downhill, Chamonix - Universal HD

RESULTS
Men’s alpine combined