Telemark: National Champions named at Steamboat

Kelsey Schmid-Sommer of Whitefish Montana and Drew Hauser of Silverthorne Colorado are the 2009 U.S. National Telemark Champions.

The U.S. National Championships concluded Sunday with the deciding Walmart/Back Door Sports Dual Slalom on firm snow at Steamboat Springs.Kelsey Schmid-Sommer of Whitefish Montana and Drew Hauser of Silverthorne Colorado are the 2009 U.S. National Telemark Champions.

The U.S. National Championships concluded Sunday with the deciding Walmart/Back Door Sports Dual Slalom on firm snow at Steamboat Springs.

Schmid-Sommer won the Dual Slalom with Lorin Paley in second place and Suzanne Pattinson in third. This win created a tie for the women’s national championship spot as Kelsey and Lorin had both won two of the four events held. The tie-breaker added the time for all four races putting Kelsey in the top spot by just under two seconds.

This is Kelsey’s fourth national championship.

Hauser was the winner of the Dual Slalom followed by Shane Anderson in second and Peter McMahon in third. Only two seconds separated these three skiers. Again the result created tie for the men’s championship between Hauser and Anderson, but because Anderson did not finish the Telemark GS on Thursday, Hauser was named the National Champion.

U.S. team members Anderson, Hauser and Erika Walters will be traveling to Norway to compete in the final two World Cup events of the season.  To see all the results go to ustsa.org