Aspen: Kelley aiming for WC breakthrough

ASPEN, Colorado — Two-time NorAm giant slalom champion Jessica Kelley is proud of her racing at the NorAm level, but she's hoping this weekend's World Cup races in Aspen help jump-start her World Cup breakthrough season.
ASPEN, Colorado — Two-time NorAm giant slalom champion Jessica Kelley is proud of her racing at the NorAm level, but she's hoping this weekend's World Cup races in Aspen help jump-start her World Cup breakthrough season.
    She won a time trial last week at Keystone Resort to secure the berth in the Winternational GS on Saturday and will run slalom Sunday.
    Kelley called the Keystone snow "unbelievable for this time of year" and is another reason for her bristling confidence. The U.S. Ski Team's exclusive early season agreement with Keystone to train on North Peak will pay dividends, she said. "It's been great."
    "My body's been feeling good and I've definitely been making improvements in my skiing," said Kelley, who missed the last month of winter '06 because of a cranky back. "I've been able to get body in a good position and go … and I'm skiing well, especially in GS and my slalom's been improving lately, so I'm optimistic. I was close last year and I definitely want to move up this time."
    Women's head coach Patrick Riml said Kelley "has been charging; she's been healthy and she's got her confidence up, so I'm expecting Jess to start scoring more points. I'm looking for her to start showing up in second runs this winter. She can do it."
    She moved to Park City, Utah, during the summer again to help further boost her training and conditioning, and the fact that other "Skiing Cochran" clan members were there was a bonus. Cochran's mother is Lindy Cochran and others in Park City during the summer included younger brother Tim, a C team member and cousins Jimmy Cochran (Bob Cochran's son) and Roger Brown (Marilyn Cochran's son), two men's B team athletes.
    Kelley credits Chris Knight, the new women's slalom and GS head coach, with helping her make progress in her rebound from a year ago — "but, really, the whole staff has been excellent."
    After winning the NorAm GS title in 2003 and again in '05, Kelley said she's ready to start making serious progress on the World Cup. "I've always done well in NorAms, but it's time for me to start doing better in World Cups. If I do, I think making the World Championships team is definitely doable," she said. "It's certainly a goal for me."