Men's NorAm races begin Monday at Keystone

KEYSTONE, Colorado — The Chevrolet Super Series NorAm Cup returns for a second consecutive year to Keystone today through Thursday with some of the best international racers competing in the first men’s race of the year on American snow.

KEYSTONE, Colorado — The Chevrolet Super Series NorAm Cup returns for a second consecutive year to Keystone today through Thursday with some of the best international racers competing in the first men’s races of the year on American snow.
    With more than 14 countries represented and some of the top-ranked men's slalom and giant slalom racers in the world competing, the Keystone NorAm races are timed perfectly — just a few days before the Visa Birds of Prey races, a stop on the annual international men’s World Cup circuit, at Beaver Creek. Many of the teams plan to use the Super Series races at Keystone as a warm-up and final determination of who’s racing in the giant slalom and slalom races at Beaver Creek Nov. 30-Dec. 3.
    The Keystone giant slalom and slalom courses that debuted last season on the front side of Dercum Mountain are steep, fast and feature some tight spots. They also afford great viewing for spectators on foot at the base of River Run or from the air while riding on the Summit Express chairlift.
    The Chevrolet Super Series represents NorAm Cup races in the United States each winter as the circuit is divided between Canada and the United States. The annual races are a stepping-stone for athletes looking to move up to the World Cup tour. The top two skiers in each discipline (slalom, GS, super G and downhill) earn automatic start spots in all World Cup races during the following season.
    The Super Series will see not only some of America’s best racers but also athletes from Austria, Sweden, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Japan and New Zealand.
    Winter Park, meanwhile, will host women's NorAm slalom and giant slalom races beginning Tuesday. Click here for more information.

Some racers expected to compete this week include:
• Kalle Palander, Finland (ranked No. 3 in the world for slalom FIS points and No. 5 for giant slalom)
• Thomas Grandi, Canada (ranked No. 6 in the world for SL and No. 6 for GS)
• Stephane Tissot, France (ranked No. 7 in the world for SL)
• Akira Sasaki, Japan (ranked No. 8 in the world for SL)
• Markus Larsson, Sweden (ranked No. 9 in the world for SL)
• Kentaro Minagawa, Japan (ranked No. 10 in the world for SL)
• Erik Schlopy, USA (ranked No. 15 in the world for GS)
• Americans Jake Zamansky and Tom Rothrock

Chevrolet Super Series NorAm Cup – Men’s GS and SL
Monday, Nov. 27 — Giant slalom —  10 a.m., 1 p.m.           
Tuesday, Nov. 28 — Giant slalom —  10 a.m., 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 29 — Slalom — 10 a.m., 1 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 30 — Slalom — 10 a.m., 1 p.m.