US Alpine and U19/21 Championships headed to Sugarloaf

The best ski racers in the country will hit the slopes at Sugarloaf this season for the 2017 U.S. Alpine Championships March 25 – 28, 2017. It will be the resort’s sixth time hosting the national championship. The Maine resort will also play host to the newly instated U19 and U21 Junior National Championships, taking place immediately after the U.S. Championships.

The U.S. Championships are a vital part of the USSA’s national development program, pitting top club athletes from regional teams around America against U.S. Ski Team veterans from the Audi FIS Ski World Cup tour. Sugarloaf, along with Carrabassett Valley Academy, has long been a hotbed of ski racing and the development home of stars like Olympic champion Bode Miller and up-and-comer Sam Morse.

“From World Cups to National Championships, Sugarloaf has been a proving ground for the world’s best for 50 years,” said Sugarloaf General Manager Karl Strand. “Ski racing is who we are. We couldn’t be more excited to host the nation’s best ski racers here at Sugarloaf again in 2017.”

The new U19 and U21 Championships provide skiers in those age groups with two days of additional giant slalom and slalom competitions. Awards will be given for both the U19 and U21 age groups. The super-G junior national champion will be crowned as part of the U.S. Championships super-G event on March 25.

“The U19 and U21 events are a prime opportunity to have all of the best juniors in the country competing head-to-head for a true national junior championship title,” said USSA Alpine Director Patrick Riml. “Those events combined with top-notch racing from our national team athletes and a world class venue at Sugarloaf will make for some exciting competition to close out the season.”

The venue will also host the final NorAm speed events of the season on March 22 and 23, just before the national championships.

Release and photo courtesy of USSA