ALPINE NATIONALS: Olympians, other top contenders set for Sugarloaf shootout

ALPINE NATIONALS: Olympians, other top contenders set for Sugarloaf shootout{mosimage}SUGARLOAF, Maine – America’s top alpine racers, including Olympic gold medalists Ted Ligety and Julia Mancuso, will close out the season at the 2006 TD Banknorth U.S. Alpine Championships, March 25-29 at Sugarloaf/USA.

OLN will broadcast the 2006 TD Banknorth U.S. Alpine Championships on Saturday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET and again on April 4 at 5 p.m. ET.

Headlining the field will be three-time Olympian Daron Rahlves, the most successful American male downhill and super G racer, set to defend his U.S. super G title. Also scheduled to race is Bode Miller, who first hit the national scene at the 1996 U.S. championships at Sugarloaf when he finished third in slalom while attending nearby Carrabassett Valley Academy.

Racing on the women’s side are three-time 2006 World Cup winner Lindsey Kildow, who posted two top-10 finishes in the Torino Olympics, and Maine’s own three-time Olympian Kirsten Clark, another CVA alum who grew up racing at Sugarloaf.

The U.S. championships match the best U.S. team athletes with hundreds of aspiring American skiers looking to measure themselves against world-class racers as they aim for spots on the U.S. Ski Team.

Sugarloaf hosted the U.S. championships in 1996 and ’97 as well as a World Cup event in 1971. This is the first year sponsoring the championships for TD Banknorth, which has sponsored the developmental, domestic Eastern Cup Series since 2004.

The 2006 U.S. Alpine Championships include downhill, super G, giant slalom and slalom races on the fabled Narrow Gauge trail. Festivities include opening ceremonies on Saturday, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. with traditional music from members of Maine’s Penobscot Indian Nation.

Maine’s Gov. John Baldacci will welcome the athletes and spectators, and several athletes will be recognized, including recent U.S. Olympians, the newly crowned national downhill champions, ski team alumni and the 2006 Ski Racing magazine Athlete of the Year. The evening also will feature fireworks, an autograph session at 7:45 p.m. and a free concert at 8 p.m. with blues artist Jen Kearney, a native of Portland, Maine.

– USSA

The schedule of events for the 2006 TD Banknorth U.S. Alpine Championships:

Wednesday, March 22
9:30 a.m., men’s DH training, Narrow Gauge
11 a.m., women’s DH training, Narrow Gauge

Thursday, March 23
9:30 a.m., men’s DH training, Narrow Gauge
11 a.m., women’s DH training, Narrow Gauge

Friday, March 24
9:30 a.m. men’s FIS DH, Narrow Gauge
11 a.m. women’s FIS DH, Narrow Gauge
Awards ceremony immediately following

Saturday, March 25
9:30 a.m., men’s national downhill, Narrow Gauge
11 a.m., women’s national downhill, Narrow Gauge
Junior awards ceremony immediately following
7 p.m., opening ceremonies, The Beach

Sunday, March 26
9:30 a.m., men’s super G, Narrow Gauge
12:30 p.m., women’s super G, Narrow Gauge

Monday, March 27
9 a.m., men’s slalom first run, Narrow Gauge
11 a.m., women’s slalom first run, Narrow Gauge
12:30 p.m., men’s slalom second run, Narrow Gauge
2 p.m., men’s slalom second run, Narrow Gauge
Awards ceremony immediately following

Tuesday, March 28
9 a.m., men’s GS first run, Narrow Gauge
12 noon, men’s GS second run, Narrow Gauge
Awards ceremony immediately following

Wednesday, March 29
9 a.m., women’s GS first run, Narrow Gauge
12 noon, women’s GS second run, Narrow Gauge
Awards ceremony immediately following