Mancuso, Ford Earn Back-to-Back wins with National Super G Crowns

The 2011 U.S. Alpine National Championships continued with men’s and women’s super G races today (April 2) in Winter Park, Colo. Julia Mancuso and Tommy Ford each secured their second win in as many days following their victories in yesterday’s giant slalom.

The women were up first in the Rocky Mountain sunshine on a tricky, turny course that saw 18 racers fail to finish. “It was technical, definitely more gates and shorter distances than a normal super G but the snow set up better than the GS yesterday so it ran pretty smooth and good,” said Mauncuso, the fifth racer down the track.

Mancuso finished the 37-gate course in one minute, 13.34 seconds. Leanne Smith was two-tenths of a second behind in second place while Stacey Cook was 0.35 seconds back to repeat her performance in yesterday’s GS with her second bronze medal in as many days.

Mancuso notched her 13th career National title extending her U.S. record. It was also her first super G crown since 2003. “It’s really nice to win races, it’s not something that happens very often for me because I’m racing World Cup all the time,” said Mancuso with a broad smile. “It’s just fun to come out and race with everyone, of course today is even better, it’s nice to race in the spring weather. It’s a beautiful day out here so it’s kind of one of those moments where you are really thankful for your job.”

Smith, a part of this season’s highly successful U.S. women’s speed team with 15 World Cup scoring results of her own,  collected her third National Championships medal. “She’s catchable,” said Smith of Mancuso with a knowing nod. “She’s an incredible skier, we all know that. It’s fun for me to run behind her because it fires me up a little more. Today she got me and I can understand why.”

Aspen’s Kathrine Ryan was the top junior skier with the ninth-fastest time overall. “It’s really cool to be here with the World Cup racers, I’ve looked up to them for a long time and obviously watching them on World Cup has been so cool and you kind of try to ski like them and when they are right in front of you it’s like the perfect opportunity to learn. Running 15 I just kind of tried to stay in their track.”

An hour later the sun was even higher and the temperature had climbed to 50 F in time for the men’s start. Ford did his work early as the first racer out of the gate with a time of one minute, 10.10 seconds to claim his fifth national title in 12 months (slalom, combined  and GS in 2010).

“It was was another soft day and a little more turny set, which suits me well,” said Ford who grew up in often soft conditions at Mount Bachelor. “Running first is a huge advantage so I took advantage of it and skied well and tried to work the skis in the soft snow.”

Tommy Biesemeyer, who made his World Cup debut this season, earned his first career National Championships medal in second place, two-tenths of a second behind Ford. Junior skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle of the Mount Mansfield Ski and Snowboard Club, secured his best National championship result ever in third place, 0.42 seconds behind Ford.

“The season is coming to an end and I really wanted it today and I really wanted the win but I’ll take second,” said Biesemeyer. “I made some bobbles that may have cost the race but coming second to Tommy Ford is pretty respectable.”  

Cochran-Siegle was also the top junior racer in yesterday’s GS in ninth overall. “It feels great, I think super G is one of my better events right now and I was glad I was able to put it in there,” said Cochran-Siegle, this season’s NorAm Cup super G champion. “It’s a lot of motivation to get better. I really want to push myself this summer. I feel like I have a lot more going for me so I definitely want to keep rolling.”

Chris Frank grabbed his second fourth-place finish in two days with a time of 1:10.54.

A familiar face led the men’s forerunners as World Cup regular, Marco Sullivan clicked back into his race skis following a break brought on by an early-season concussion.

“That was my first run on super G skis since I crashed in Bormio (Dec. 28).” said Sullivan, who passed his doctors’ test to return to snow four weeks ago. “I was a little bit nervous but it felt good. I was stoked, I made some nice turns. It feels really good to get back on the speed course and just have fun and realize this is still what I want to do.”

National Championship competition concludes in Winter Park tomorrow with men’s and women’s Slalom races Sunday, April 3.

Complete results and more to come soon.

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Putnam Investments US Alpine Championships, Women’s super G, Winter Park, Colo., April 2, 2011
Equipment
skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Mancuso, Volkl/Lange/Marker
2 Smith, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
3 Cook, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
Putnam Investments US Alpine Championships, Women’s super G, Winter Park, Colo., April 2, 2011. …The 76th Annual U.S. Alpine Championships. … Winning margin is .20. … first four skiers within the same second.
It is the 14th National title for Julia Mancuso, extending her record. … It is her second of the 2011 US Alpine Championships. … It is her third SG title having also won in 2003 and 2007. … It is her 30th career national meet podium.

It is the third career national medal for Leanne Smith. … She was also second in SG in 2008 and won the downhill last season.

It is the 38th career national medal for Stacey Cook and second of these championships having also placed third in GS. … It is her fourth medal in super G having won in 2006 and 2008 and placed second in 2007.

Katherine Ryan is the top junior racer in ninth place. …  J2 Libby Gibson placed tenth.

Putnam Investments US Alpine Championships, Men’s super G, Winter Park, Colo., April 2, 2011
Equipment
skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Ford, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
2 Biesemeyer, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3 Cochran-Siegle, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
Putnam Investments US Alpine Championships, Men’s super G, Winter Park, Colo., April 2, 2011. …The 76th Annual U.S. Alpine Championships. … Winning margin is .10. … first six skiers are within the same second.

It is the fifth straight US National Championship win for Tommy Ford and second of these championships. … He also won the slalom, combined and GS last season. … It is his first SG title.

It is the first national podium for Thomas Biesemeyer. … his next best result at Nationals is fifth in combined in 2009.

It is the first national podium for Ryan Cochran-Siegle. … his next best result at Nationals is sixth in SG last season. … He is the top junior in the competition.