Huntsman Cup: Devlin-Young, Victor top podium

The U.S. Disabled Alpine Team capitalized on another day of great conditions at Park City to take home eight more podium finishes in the second of two giant slaloms at the 20th annual Huntsman Cup.
PARK CITY, Utah — The U.S. Disabled Alpine Team capitalized on another day of great conditions at Park City to take home eight more podium finishes in the second of two giant slaloms at the 20th annual Huntsman Cup.
    Trading spots from Friday, local athlete and 2006 Paralympic slalom gold medalist Stephani Victor (sit-ski) bested teammate Laurie Stephens, and development skier Ricci Kilgore continued to impress coaches with her second GS third in two days. In the standing competition, the women's podium was a mirror image of Friday with Sandy Dukat again landing in second behind Canadian Arly Fogarty, with Elitsa Storey in third.
    On the men's side, Chris Devlin-Young made up for a crash on Friday to win the sit-ski event in front of Sean Rose from Great Britain and teammate Carl Burnett. Also skiing well was Brad Washburn, who solved the American drought of the standing podium to finish third behind Australians Toby Kane and Camero Rahls-Rahbula.
    "Today was really good for me," said Devlin-Young, a 2006 Paralympic silver medalist in downhill. "Everything we've been working on came together not just for me, but for a lot of members of this team. If we keep this going, all I have to say is, 'Look out Europeans.' We're definitely ready to open the World Cup."
    As the last competition before the World Cup opens Jan. 17-22 in Aspen, Colorado, the Huntsman Cup serves as a solid gage for the team before jumping into its highest-level competition of the year. For Devlin-Young, Aspen may be happening right on time.
    "I've been trying some new things and they seem to be coming together with perfect timing. The big change is with technique — we're trying to only do the acceleration part of each turn, which helps us carry a lot of speed into each gate. Our equipment has improved so much over the years and it's allowing us to go faster and faster, but with better equipment, I need better technique. Pretty soon, we'll be going faster than able-bodied skiers — just like winning the podium, that's one of our goals."
    U.S. head coach Ray Watkins added that the biggest change for Devlin-Young and teammate Tyler Walker, who won GS on Friday, is their seating system.
    "Aspen Seating has been a great innovator for those guys," he said. "There new gear has allowed them to train all day, take numerous runs and not be sore. The way Chris and Tyler are skiing now, it won't be long until they're faster than able-bodied skiers."
    The Huntsman Cup concludes Sunday with a slalom before opening the World Cup on the 17th.     "Everyone is really skiing well right now. We're going to wrap things up strong in Park City, then it's time to get it on in Aspen with another world-class race hill," added Watkins.

20th ANNUAL HUNTSMAN CUP
Park City, Utah — Jan. 6, 2007
Giant slalom-2
Men — sit-ski
1. Chris Devlin-Young, Campton, N.H.
2. Sean Rose, Great Britain
3. Carl Burnett, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
–
Standing
1. Toby Kane, Australia
2. Camero Rahls-Rahbula, Australia
3. Brad Washburn, Littleton, Colo.
—
Women — sit-ski
1. Stephani Victor, Park City, Utah
2. Laurie Stephens, Wenham, Wash.
3. Ricci Kilgore, Reno, Nev.
–
Standing
1. Arly Fogarty, Canada
2. Sandy Dukat, Vail, Colo.
3. Elitsa Storey, Ketchum, Idaho