SUGARLOAF, ME (March 23, 2015) – America’s most prestigious domestic alpine ski racing event returns to Sugarloaf this week as the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships get underway March 25-29. A field of nearly 200 athletes from around the United States and the world will take part in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) event which returns to the USSA Eastern region for the first time since 2008.
The U.S. Championships are a vital part of the USSA’s national development program, pitting top club athletes from regional teams around America against U.S. Ski Team veterans from the Audi FIS Ski World Cup tour. As an International Ski Federation (FIS)-sanctioned event, it is also open to foreign skiers. As a preview to the upcoming events, last week the U.S. Championship downhill was run at Sugarloaf with Wiley Maple (Aspen, CO) and Julia Ford (Holderness, NH) each taking home titles.
“Our USSA Eastern region is vital to the sport in America,” said USSA Alpine Director Patrick Riml from the World Cup Finals in Meribel, France. “Everyone is excited to come to the east and we know there will be great racing at Sugarloaf. We have a great group of athletes coming to Sugarloaf, including some of our superstars, which is important to get the ski racing community fired up about the sport.”
The U.S. Ski Team is coming off a successful season that included five medals at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, along with three season-long World Cup titles.
Racing will take place on Sugarloaf’s legendary Narrow Gauge trail, which was also the site of a 1971 FIS World Cup. It will be the fifth time Sugarloaf has played host to the championships following successful events in 1996, 1997, 2006 and 2008.
“New England skiers don’t often have the opportunity to experience races of this caliber in-person,” Sugarloaf General Manager John Diller said. “Sugarloaf has a proud tradition of hosting some of the world’s premier ski racing events, and we’re honored to have the U.S. Alpine Championships return this spring.”
Sugarloaf, along with Carrabassett Valley Academy, has long been a hotbed of ski racing and the development home of stars like Olympic champion Bode Miller and World Championship medalist Kirsten Clark. Sugarloaf’s proud racing heritage stems from years of hosting world-class competitions. The mountain has staged many Junior Olympics and Eastern Cup (development level) events. In 1971, Sugarloaf held men’s and women’s World Cup races and also hosted the first official FIS Alpine Junior World Championships in 1984.
The Sugarloaf community will formally welcome the nation's best skiers to the resort on Thursday, March 26, with an Opening Ceremony that will include a parade of athletes, speeches by notable members of the Sugarloaf and U.S. Ski Team communities, as well as a firework display presented by the Bank of Maine and Atlas Pyro.
Following the U.S. Alpine Championships, the top ski racers in the country under 16 years old will come to Sugarloaf for the USSA U16 National Championships and Assessment Project. It’s the first time the important development event has been in the USSA Eastern Region. A total of 96 athletes have been invited to the March 30-April 4 development project, which will include SkillsQuest and freeskiing assessments, along with competitions in giant slalom, slalom and, for the first time, super G.
NATURE VALLEY U.S. ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS, Sugarloaf, ME
Wednesday, March 25
Men’s and women’s super G
Thursday, March 26
Women’s giant slalom
Friday, March 27
Men’s giant slalom
Saturday, March 29
Women’s slalom
Sunday, March 30
Men’s slalom
USSA U16 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND ASSESSMENT PROJECT
March 30 – April 4
Monday, March 30
Freeski assessment
Tuesday, March 31
SkillsQuest assessment
Wednesday, April 1
Men’s and women’s super G
Thursday, April 2
Men’s and women’s giant slalom
Friday, April 3
Men’s and women’s slalom
VENUE RECAP
Sugarloaf, ME
A well-known ski racing venue, Sugarloaf will do triple duty this year as site of the final NorAm speed events as well as the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships, then closing out the racing season with the U16 Championships. Athletes will be racing on the famed Narrow Gauge trail, site of a past World Cup downhill as well as numerous junior and national championship events. It is the only course in the east that is FIS homologated for all racing disciplines.
In concert with one of the USSA’s top club programs, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Sugarloaf has a rich racing history, including stars like Bode Miller and Kirsten Clark, as well as its own Sam Morse, who grew up in the Carrabassett Valley and last year was named to the U.S. Ski Team. Having played a key role in the development of some of the country’s best ski racers, Sugarloaf sees the season-ending races as a perfect fit.
QUOTES
Lindsey Vonn
This will be my first time back at U.S. Alpine Championships since before my injuries - the last time I was at U.S. champs was at Winter Park. I’m looking forward to being back there as it’s always a great environment with great energy. But the primary reason I’m heading out to Sugarloaf is not for the competition itself, but to be there to support the younger generation of ski racers. I know it meant a lot to me as a young ski racer to compete in this event amongst some of the best ski racers in the world, and I’m hoping to have the same influence on the younger generation.
Sasha Rearick, Men’s Head Coach
The east always brings lots of energy and excitement to the nationals. Looking forward to going back to Sugarloaf and having a great series there.
Patrick Riml, USSA Alpine Director
Our USSA Eastern region is vital to the sport in America. Everyone is excited to come to the east and we know there will be great racing at Sugarloaf. We appreciate the support of Sugarloaf for U.S. Championships, as well as the NorAm Finals together with Waterville Valley and Burke. We have a great group of athletes coming to Sugarloaf, including some of our superstars, which is important to get the ski racing community fired up about the sport.
John Diller, Sugarloaf General Manager
New England skiers don’t often have the opportunity to experience races of this caliber in-person. Sugarloaf has a proud tradition of hosting some of the world’s premier ski racing events, and we’re honored to have the U.S. Alpine Championships return this spring.
DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Giant Slalom
Tim Jitloff
Mikaela Shiffrin
Slalom
David Chodounsky
Marie-Michele Gagnon of Canada
