World-class field expected for NorAm openers

WINTER PARK, Colorado — The season's first women's slalom and giant slalom events on the NorAm circuit will be run from Tuesday through Friday at Winter Park Resort.

WINTER PARK, Colorado — The season's first women's slalom and giant slalom events on the NorAm circuit will be run Tuesday through Friday at Winter Park Resort. 
    These races will feature North America's best female skiers as well as top racers from around the world, including 2006 Olympic bronze medalist and current World Cup GS leader Kathrin Zettel from Austria. Zettel won Saturday's opening World Cup GS on Saturday in Aspen. Also scheduled to compete this week are Therese Borssen of Sweden, who placed third in Sunday's WC slalom at Aspen, and Canada's Brigitte Acton.
    The NorAm schedule will kick off with slalom races on the Lower Hughes trail on Tuesday and Wednesday. Start times are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. each day. The giant slalom is set to begin Thursday on the Meadows/Norwegian race hill.  Award ceremonies are scheduled for approximately 2 p.m. in the finish arena each day and fans are encouraged to attend.
    Several national and regional junior racers are set to compete against these elite women, including Winter Park's own Khyla Burrows, Chelsea Nova, Madison Shepard and Melissa Glans.
   “What’s most exciting for us is to have so many local girls testing themselves against this world-class field. This event has been an indicator of World Cup success in recent years,” said competition center alpine program director Jon Nolting. “It’s a great opportunity to watch this caliber of skiing up close and personal in our own backyard. Due to the lack of snow in Europe, we are anticipating an even stronger than normal field. These women are amazing athletes.”
    Burrows is a Winter Park local and a Middle Park High School sophomore. Nova just moved to Winter Park and is a Middle Park High School senior. Madison Shepard lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but lives in Winter Park in the winter. Glans lives in Fort Collins and trains with the Winter Park ski team at least three days a week. This will be the first NorAm event for all four girls, and their goal in this deeply talented field will be place among the top 60 thus qualifying for a second run.
     Following these events, many of the athletes will be heading to Europe for more races before Christmas on the World Cup or Europa Cup circuits. The local athletes will return to the slopes at Winter Park Dec. 8-11 to compete in the Rocky Mountain Trophy Series giant slalom openers with an eye on qualification for the Junior Olympics and U.S. National Championships.
    For more information on the women’s slalom and giant slalom as well as other competitions at Winter Park, contact Darcy Morse at 970-726-1565 or at dmorse@skiwinterpark.com or Jennifer deBerge at jdeberge@skiwinterpark.com. Those interested in volunteering for this event should contact the Competition Center at 970-726-1590 or email ccenter@skiwinterpark.com.