SUN VALLEY, ID (March 10, 2016) – The Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships are back in Intermountain and the U.S. athletes couldn’t be more stoked. From March 22-27, the best skiers in the nation will head to the place skiing began in the United States – Sun Valley.
The ski history and culture is rich in Sun Valley, the first ski resort in the nation. In its 80th winter, the magic of Sun Valley is bigger and better than ever, and the organizers have worked tirelessly to prep a world-class track and an après ski paradise with something for everyone.
If you know anything about the Sun Valley skiing, you know that it is steep, fast and fun. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you it’s one of the best resorts in the nation to carve GS turns on silky-smooth corduroy. “Of course I think its the best for free skiing GS – it has these perfect runs to arc and the weather is always nice!” exclaimed U.S. Ski Team veteran Resi Stiegler (Jackson, WY).
Athletes have reason to be amped about the venue, too, because Sun Valley has worked to create an epic super G course at the maximum vertical limit. The Greyhawk area will be the epicenter of energy for the event, with the super G, giant slalom and slalom finishing at the bottom of Greyhawk lift, allowing spectators to see the entire race.
Drew Duffy, who surprised the field to win the 2015 super G race in Sugarloaf, Maine, is back to defend his title March 24 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (USSA)
Sun Valley-native Tanner Farrow (Ketchum, ID), who has been enjoying some training on the giant slalom track recently, is excited to be on home snow. “SO stoked! I can guarantee Sun Valley will live up to the name,” said Farrow. “We will have a beautiful week of racing and people are working hard to make the atmosphere off the hill great – street parties, bands, and food.”
While Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) is excited to ski Sun Valley for the first time, veterans like Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA) have good memories of Sun Valley from long ago, “I always have had a great time skiing in Sun Valley, dating back to my Junior Olympic days in the early 90s,” reflected Sullivan. “Love the small town vibe, endless groomed runs and then heading to Apples Bar and Grill for some aprés. I am definitely looking forward to Alpine Champs.”
Nina O’Brien will defend her giant slalom title on March 27 (USSA)
Another veteran, three-time Olympian Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT), notes that U.S. Alpine Champs is special to him because it’s finally in his home division, which he’s never experienced before. “This is important because the kids from our division have the ability to race with and see America’s best compete,” said Nyman. “I know several people who are making the trek up from Utah to watch and enjoy a great ski weekend!”
Keep an eye out for Olympic gold medalist, two-time World Slalom Champion and four-time National Slalom Champion Shiffrin, Stiegler, Nyman, Sullivan, Farrow and up-and-comers like World Juniors downhill champion Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA), three Youth Olympic Games gold medal winner River Radamus (Edwards, CO) and last year’s surprise super G and giant slalom National Champions Drew Duffy (Warren, VT) and Nina O’Brien (San Francisco, CA).
U.S. SKI TEAM STARTERS (AC, SG, SL, GS)
Men
Michael Ankeny – AC, SG, SL, GS
Erik Arvidsson – AC, SG, SL, GS
Bryce Bennett – AC, SG, SL, GS
Thomas Biesemeyer – AC, SG, GS
David Chodounsky – AC, SG, SL, GS*
Kieffer Christianson – AC, SG, SL, GS
Ryan Cochran-Siegle – AC, SG, GS
Drew Duffy – AC, SG, SL, GS*
Sam Dupratt – AC, SG, SL, GS
Mark Engel – AC, SG, SL, GS
Tanner Farrow – AC, SG, SL, GS
Tommy Ford – AC, SG, SL, GS
AJ Ginnis – SL, GS
Tim Jitloff – AC, SG, SL, GS*
Tim Kelley – SL
Patrick Kenney – AC, SG, SL, GS
Nicholas Krause – AC, SG, SL, GS
Sam Morse – AC, SG, SL, GS
Steven Nyman – AC, SG
River Radamus – AC, SG, SL, GS
Hig Roberts – AC, SG, SL, GS
Brennan Rubie – AC, SG, SL, GS
Marco Sullivan – AC, SG, GS
Sandy Vietze – AC, SG, SL, GS
Kipling Weisel – AC, SG, SL, GS
Women
Stacey Cook – AC, SG
Breezy Johnson – AC, SG, SL, GS
Lila Lapanja – SL, GS
Stephanie Lebby – AC, SG, SL, GS
Patricia Mangan – AC, SG, SL, GS
Anna Marno – AC, SG, SL, GS
Alice Merryweather – AC, SG, SL, GS
Paula Moltzan – AC, SG, SL, GS
Nina O’Brien – AC, SG, SL, GS*
Laurenne Ross – AC, SG
Mikaela Shiffrin – SL, GS*
Resi Stiegler – SL, GS
Galena Wardle – AC, SG, SL, GS
Jackie Wiles – AC, SG, SL, GS
*defending 2015 National Champion
SCHEDULE
March 22-27, 2016, Sun Valley Ski Resort
Tuesday, March 22 – Men’s alpine combined and FIS super G
Wednesday, March 23 – Women’s alpine combined and FIS super G
