American veterans and youngsters head to Levi

Paula Moltzan at the 2013 U.S. national championships (credit: Mark Epstein)

LEVI, Finland – This weekend the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup tour travels to Levi for the second World Cup race of the season, the precursor to back-to-back speed weeks in Beaver Creek, Colo. Top U.S. athletes Mikaela Shiffrin and Ted Ligety will compete alongside a strong list of starters in the slalom races held Saturday and Sunday. Ligety is coming off his season-opening giant slalom win at Soelden, where Shiffrin had the best GS result of her career, finishing sixth.

Additional starters include veteran Resi Stiegler and Buck Hill’s Paula Moltzan, whose only previous World Cup race was last November in Aspen. On the men’s side, Nolan Kasper, David Chodounsky, Will Brandenburg, and Colby Granstrom will try to capitalize on their starts in Levi. Ligety, who has been training extremely fast slalom, sees the discipline as the key to his shot at an overall World Cup title.

Levi is north of the Arctic Circle and skiing will happen under the lights since the days are so short this time of year.

Release courtesy of USSA