NorAm Slalom Circuit Wraps Up in Vermont

Following the final giant slalom races of the 2019 NorAm season earlier this week in Stowe and Burke, Vermont, action picked back up on March 14th with men’s and women’s slalom races at the two New England ski resorts. With the men’s races at Burke and the women at Stowe, organizers chose to run both slalom races on Thursday. As these were the final slalom races of the season, the action at Stowe and Burke would decide the final discipline standings and the top two North American finishers who would walk away with coveted World Cup starting spots for the 2020 season.

Men’s Slalom – Burke Mountain, Vermont, USA

Men’s action got underway Thursday morning with an international field comprised of racers from no fewer than 17 countries. The field including a trio of World Cup slalom skiers from Germany with Fritz Dopfer, Linus Strasser, and David Ketterer all making the trip across the Atlantic.

Young American racer Kyle Negomir took the win in race number one with a combined time of 1:39.87 seconds, good enough for 0.46 seconds ahead of Dopfer in second and Great Britain’s Laurie Taylor in third, 0.57 seconds back. Negomir scored a FIS-minimum six-point result and was also the fastest junior. Unfortunately, GS double-gold medalist, Switzerland and Dartmouth College’s Tanguy Nef, did not finish the first men’s race.

Race number two saw Dopfer make the jump to the top step of the podium, taking the win with a two-run time of 1:42.32 seconds. American Luke Winter finished in second place, a slim 0.04 seconds shy of the win and Germany’s Strasser rounded out the podium in third, 0.47 seconds back. Australia’s Louis Muhlen-Schulte was the fastest junior in fourth place overall, 0.56 seconds back.

In the final men’s NorAm slalom standings, Canada’s Simon Fournier walked away with the title with 525 points. Winters finished in second place in the standings, 178 points back. The United States’ Benjamin Ritchie finished third. Fournier and Winters will have dedicated World Cup slalom spots for next season.

Race One Results

1. Kyle Negomir (USA): 1:39.87
2. Fritz Dopfer (GER): +0.46
3. Laurie Taylor (GBR): +0.57
4. Linus Strasser (GER): +0.59
5. David Ketterer (GER): +0.67
6. Simon Fournier (CAN): +0.83
7. Garret Driller (USA): +0.98
8. Sandy Vietze (USA): +1.30
9. Luke Winters (USA): +1.31
10. Jeffery Read (CAN): +1.56

For complete FIS results, please click here.

Race Two Results

1. Fritz Dopfer (GER): 1:42.32
2. Luke Winters (USA): +0.04
3. Linus Strasser (GER): +0.47
4. Louis Muhlen-Schulte (AUS): +0.56
5. Simon Fournier (CAN): +0.74
6. Benjamin Ritchie (USA): +0.77
7. Laurie Taylor (GBR): +0.90
8. Hig Roberts (USA): +1.03
9. David Ketterer (GER): +1.11
10. Liam Wallace (CAN): +1.13

For complete FIS results, please click here.

Women’s Slalom – Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont, USA

On the women’s side, a diverse field of 12 nations saw Canadian and University of Denver student Ameila Smart get off to a hot start in race one, taking the victory with a total time of 1:54.32 seconds. Smart was joined on the podium by Croatia’s Andrea Komsic in second place, 1.39 seconds back, and Adriana Jelnicova of the Netherlands in third, 1.46 seconds off the pace. Komsic also attends the University of Denver and Smart was also the fastest junior.

Race number two saw U.S. Ski Team athlete Nina O’Brien take the win in 1:56.56 seconds, a slim 0.03 seconds ahead of Smart in second place. Third place went to O’Brien’s teammate AJ Hurt, 0.52 seconds back for her second NorAm slalom podium. Smart was once again the fastest junior.

O’Brien finished the season as the 2019 NorAm slalom champion, accumulating 585 points and finishing 75 points ahead of Smart in second. The United States’ Katie Hensien finished third, 184 points back. O’Brien and Smart will have World Cup slalom spots to their name next season.

Race One Results

1. Amelia Smart (CAN): 1:54.32
2. Andrea Komsic (CRO): +1.39
3. Adriana Jelnicova (NED): +1.46
4. AJ Hurt (USA): +1.58
5. Nina O’Brien (USA): +1.63
6. Resi Stiegler (USA): +1.69
7. Katie Hensien (USA): +1.86
8. Ali Nullmeyer (CAN): +2.13
9. Tuva Norbye (NOR): +2.35
10. Stephanie Currie (CAN): +2.38

For complete FIS results, please click here.

Race Two Results

1. Nina O’Brien (USA): 1:56.56
2. Amelia Smart (CAN): +0.03
3. AJ Hurt (USA): +0.52
4. Andrea Komsic (CRO): +0.77
5. Stephanie Currie (CAN): +0.88
6. Resi Stiegler (USA): +0.92
7. Stefanie Fleckenstein (CAN): +1.58
8. Lila Lapanja (USA): +1.68
9. Patricia Mangan (USA): +1.78
10. Keely Cashman (USA): +2.29

For complete FIS results, please click here.

The 2019 NorAm season concludes in Sugarloaf, Maine, with men’s and women’s downhill, super-G, and combined races March 16-21.