PARALYMPICS: U.S. alpine team named for Torino Paralympic Games

PARALYMPICS: U.S. alpine team named for Torino Paralympic Games{mosimage}COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After an intensive two weeks of World Cup competition in Korea and Japan, followed by the domestic Meridian Cup competition in Winter Park, Colo., 27 athletes (20 men and seven women) have been nominated to compete for the United States at the 2006 Paralympic Games in Torino, Italy.

The team is made up of 15 returning U.S. Paralympians and 12 newcomers to the Games. Kevin Jardine, head coach of the team, said he believes the mix will translate to a successful outcome in Torino.

“We have a very talented team with a lot of returning Paralympians and others who’ve experienced the international circuit, and I feel our team is so strong that we can bring home the most alpine skiing medals of any Paralympic team,” said Jardine.

2006 U.S. Paralympic alpine ski team
Women – sitting
Lacey Heward (Boise, Idaho)
Laurie Stephens (Wenham, Mass.)
Stephani Victor (Park City, Utah)

Women – standing
Sandy Dukat (Vail, Colo.)
Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Hannah Pennington (Winter Park, Colo.)
Elitsa Storey (Sun Valley, Idaho)

Men – sitting
Kevin Bramble (Truckee, Calif.)
Carl Burnett (Cape Elizabeth, Maine)
Nick Catanzarite (Winter Park, Colo.)
Chris Devlin-Young (Campton, N.H.)
Gerald Hayden (Fresno, Calif.)
John Knudsen (American Canyon, Calif.)
Roger Lee (Winter Park, Colo.)
Joe Tompkins (Juneau, Alaska)
Tyler Walker (Franconia, N.H.)

Men – standing
Chris Canfield (Breckenridge, Colo.)
Clay Fox (Gillette, Wyo.)
Ralph Green (Vail, Colo.)
Jim Lagerstrom (Deerborn, Mich.)
Monte Meier (Park City, Utah)
Reed Robinson (Incline Village, Nev.)
George Sansonetis (Fraser, Colo.)
Josh Sundquist (Richmond, Va.)
Brad Washburn (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
John Whitney (Towson, Md.)

Men – blind/visually-impaired
Andy Parr (Rockland, Maine)

Prior to the 2006 Paralympic Games, the entire team will depart for Artesina, Italy, for the IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals. All four events (slalom, giant slalom, super G and downhill) will be competed at the Finals, which coach Jardine said will give team members a solid trial run leading into the Games.

– USSA