WINTER PARK, CO (March 30) - Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA/Squaw Valley Ski Team) landed a massive 1.2 second super G victory at the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships Friday to extend her national title record to 14 in spring-like Winter Park. Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH/Mt. Washington Valley Ski Team) nabbed silver with Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR/Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation) bronze. Colorado local Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO/Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) finished seventh overall to take the top junior honors under bluebird Winter Park skies.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) produced a 1.2 second Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships super G victory to extend her U.S. title record to 14.
- It was the fourth super G U.S. Championship gold medal of Mancuso's 12 year career with the U.S. Ski Team.
- Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH) took silver with Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) in bronze.
- Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO) earned top junior honors ahead of Abby Ghent (Edwards, CO/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail) and Vanessa Berther (Sammamish, WA/Alaska University Anchorage Ski Team)
- Women's Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Champinships action continues Saturday with giant slalom in Winter Park.
QUOTES
Julia Mancuso
It's fun coming to nationals and it's fun to win races. Racing World Cup all the time you don't get to win all that many races so it's actually a really special feeling. Winning my 14th national title is pretty cool, but I'm going to race until I have 30.
It's spring conditions and kind of like an obstacle course. It's always fun to come to nationals to see all the enthusiasm of the clubs from across America. I really like cheering for all the athletes. I remember racing with the veterans on the U.S. Ski Team at U.S. Championships when I was a young racer and I hope all the young racers like coming here to compete against me and the other fast girls.
It was a really long season with no World Champs or Olympics so it was definitely a push, but I had a lot of fun. My super G went really well and I'm really happy with it. The rest of it was a battle and I know I can be a lot faster.
Leanne Smith
It's fun to be here at Winter Park, the weather has been beautiful and it's the second to last race of the year. I'm happy and just here to have a good time and hopefully get a couple of podiums.
The snow is a little sugary and hard to ski but you have to adapt to every situation.
Julia had a great run and it's been great to ski with her and the rest of the team this season. We've got such a strong group of women's athletes and that continues to keep me motivated to ski fast.
Laurenne Ross
Today was pretty good, but it didn't freeze last night so the snow was kind of tough conditions, but it was still a lot of fun and I love super G. It's great to be here in Winter Park with all of our families and friends here to see the races.
So far the highlight of my week has been the ProAm on Tuesday, but I always have fun at U.S. Championships.
Anna Marno
The year has been a little up and down, but I've raced a lot at Winter Park and it's always good to come back here. I grew up nearby in Steamboat Springs, so Winter Park is like a second home to me and it's nice to have a good result here.
To end the year with something like this really feels good. This is going to make my prep season for next year that much more fun and make me work that much harder.
TV
NBC will air the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships at 3:30 p.m. ET.
RESULTS
Official Results
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