U.S. team named for 2005 Junior World Championships{mosimage}USSA Alpine Director Jesse Hunt announced the 16 athletes, eight men and eight women, that will represent the U.S. at the Alpine World Junior Championships, to be held in Bardonecchia, Italy, on February 23-27. World rankings and results from World Cup, Europa Cup and NorAm races are criteria for the team. The 16 athletes, the maximum allowed per team by the FIS, will compete in downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super G, with those results working towards a combined standing. Each athlete will get at least two starts at the championships.

'Our goal is defending the Marc Hodler Cup' said USSA Competition Director Walt Evans. The U.S.won the Hodler Cup, awarded to the nation that accumulates the most points (points are awarded to the top-10 finishers in each event), in Maribor, Slovenia in 2004. World Cup regular Resi Stiegler headlines the group, which has some World Junior experience but will have to fill the void left by podium regulars and now-seniors Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Kildow, as well as Maribor medals winners Ted Ligety and Jeffrey Harrison.



Athlete; Hometown; Club
Caitlin CICCONE; Bethlehem, NH; Franconia Ski Club/BMA
Kara CROW; Stowe, VT; Mount Mansfield Ski Club
Mattie FORD; Ludlow, VT; Holderness Ski Team
Katharine HITCHCOCK Katharine; Sugar Bowl, CA; Sugar Bowl Ski Team
Chelsea MARSHALL; Pittsfield, VT; Green Mountain Valley School
Megan MCJAMES; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Team
Lisa PERRICONE; Steamboat Springs,CO; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club
Resi STIEGLER; Jackson Hole, WY; Park City/Jackson Hole

Men's Team
Christopher BECKMANN; Altamont, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation
Mitt COATS; Salt Lake City, UT; Park City Ski Team
Erik FISHER; Star, ID; Rowmark Ski Academy
Tim JITLOFF; Reno, NV; Park City Ski Team
Kyle KUNG; Park City, UT; Park City Ski Team
Drew ROBERTS; Steamboat Springs,CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
Todd David THIBODEAU; Waterville Valley, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS/SEF
Andrew WEIBRECHT; Lake Placid, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation