New Hampshire hosts disabled alpine nationals

When the 2007 Hartford U.S. Disabled Alpine Championships open Wednesday young ski racers from across the country will converge on the Granite State to fight for their shot at making the U.S. Disabled Alpine Ski Team.
WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. — When the 2007 Hartford U.S. Disabled Alpine Championships open Wednesday young ski racers from across the country will converge on the Granite State to fight for their shot at making the U.S. Disabled Alpine Ski Team.
    "U.S. champs are all about getting as many young racers in the gate as possible against the national team," said U.S. disabled team head coach Ray Watkins. "I look forward to this event every year because I love to see the young guys knock off our national athletes. I've always said these races are anyone's game, and it's an opportunity for young racers to make a name for themselves."
    With two NorAm races on the schedule, Watkins also said it's a chance for skiers to add more to their point totals toward securing World Cup spots in addition to a potential slot on the U.S. roster.
    "By this time of the year, our national team athletes are always a little tired, but the young racers who didn't compete on the World Cup are still gunning and this is their opportunity," Watkins said.   
    "It's not a secret that we're always recruiting, always looking for new talent with a lot of energy and enthusiasm for racing. We especially need more athletes in the standing classes and really the blind classes — we were just hammered on the World Cup in those classes, so I'll be looking to fill some slots from Waterville."
    A classic mountain for the U.S. Ski Team, Waterville Valley hosted able-bodied World Cup competition up until 1991 and the U.S. Disabled Alpine Team began racing there in 2003 and with the Eastern Championships up until 2005. This year's event will mark the return of the national team to the East.
    "These races are always such a good time," said newly crowned World Cup overall champion Stephani Victor (sit-ski). "I can't even count how many times I've been to U.S. championships, it's such a great opportunity to check out the future of our sport. But I don't relax in the gate by any means If those kids want to beat me, they're going to have to work for it."
    The 2007 Hartford U.S. Disabled Alpine Championships open Wednesday with a NorAm giant slalom and will conclude Saturday with the U.S. championships slalom.

U.S. Disabled Alpine Championships schedule:
Wednesday, March 21 – NorAm GS
Thursday, March 22 – U.S. Championships GS
Friday, March 23 – NorAm SL
Saturday, March 24, – U.S. Championships SL