Despite snowy conditions, which have dropped almost 14 inches of new snow on the Colorado Rockies in the past 24 hours, Olympian Sarah Schleper opened the first U.S. FIS slalom of the season strong today (Nov. 17) edging three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancusco for the win. Schleper beat the field by a half a second while Mancusco grabbed second place and Katie Hitchcock skied to third. Schleper, who failed to qualify for a second run last week in a World Cup race at Levi, Finland showed speed and confidence today with her next World Cup start just ten days away.

The Copper series was a two-day U.S. Ski Team “Rehearsal Race” to get the athletes prepared and warmed up for the upcoming Aspen World Cups.

The series opened with a giant slalom yesterday (Nov. 16) as Kiley Staples grabbed the top spot in what seemed to be a very close race. Staples crossed the finish with a total time of  2:08.60, just one-one hundredth of a second over Olympian Stacey Cook. Cook and Staples were over a second faster than third place, U.S. Ski Teamer Leanne Smith.  Staples proved she is strong and ready to go this season after coming back from a knee injury in 2009 and taking the second half of last season to slowly work her way back in to shape.

The Women’s World Cup arrives in Aspen for a giant slalom Nov. 27 and slalom Nov. 28 before moving to Lake Louise in early December for the start of the speed season.