North American competition season to kick off in Breckenridge

North American competition season to kick off in BreckenridgeThe alpine competition season will kick off in North America with the 2004 U.S. Ski Team Women’s Warm-up and Rocky Mountain Trophy Series at Breckenridge Resort on November 21-22, 2004. These opening races will provide a preview of alpine racers from the USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Japan and New Zealand.

The national teams from all over the world have completed their early season training on the European glaciers and now will be coming to the USA for the opening World Cup races in Aspen. Many of the international teams will use the results from the Breckenridge slalom races to determine their world cup starters at Aspen on November 26-28.

‘We are very excited to launch the women’s competitive season with these Breckenridge slalom races and want to extend our gratitude to Breckenridge Resort and Quantum Sports Club for their support of the races’, Walt Evans, National Competition Director. The early races at Breckenridge will give the U.S. Ski Team coaches a barometer of their overall strength as they prepare for the upcoming alpine World Championships in Bormio, Italy.

U.S. Ski Team Europa Cup women’s head coach, Stever Bartlett, indicates that most of the U.S. women’s team will race at the Breckenridge Warm-up races. World Cup contenders Sarah Schleper (from Vail) and Caroline Lalive (of Steamboat) will represent Colorado. Other U.S. Ski Team athletes planning to attend include: Jessica Kelly, Lauren Ross, Kaylin Richardson, Resi Stiegler, Chelsea Marshall, Caitlin Ciccone, and Katie Hitchcock. It is also possible that World Junior champions Julia Mancuso and Lindsey Kildow will be competing.

Women’s Schedule:
Nov 21-22 Breckenridge Resort W FIS SL/SL
Nov 30-Dec 3 Winter Park Resort W NorAm GS/GS/SL/SL
Nov 26-28 Aspen W World Cup GS/2 SL