Roundup of almost every circuit under the World Cup

Roundup of almost every circuit under the World Cup{mosimage}We’ve all heard it said the hard work in the trenches of the Europa Cup is where ski racers build their hearts. If this is so expect big things from the men’s technical team. In EC action at an Obereggen, Italy, Dec. 16 slalom Ted Ligety claimed second behind Andre Myhrer of Sweden. James Cochran was 17th and Chip Knight 18th. Down the road At Pozza Fassa, ITA the top U.S. placing was Tom Rothrock in ninth, but consider there were only 308 Europa Cup slalom points scored all last season by the U.S. men. They have 145 so far this season in two races.

The group also stopped in for Europa Cup GS work at St. Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy. Cochran was 12th, Rothrock 13th. Here’s a link to a website that will provide a glimpse into the importance of Europa Cup racing in Italy.

The women kept busy too…

The women kept busy between World Cup starts as well. Sarah Schleper slipped into a FIS slalom at Racines/Ratschings, Italy on December 15 to take a big-margin win over Norwegian Lene Loeseth… Kaylin Richardson got seventh, Lauren Ross 13th. Click here for more.

Back to domestic…

In the premier North American circuit, the NorAms, there were a pair of men’s SG’s held at Lake Louise to close out that series. Dec. 14 it was Jakub Fiala over Manuel Osborne-Paradis of Canada. … Kevin Francis was in fifth behind Canadians Brad Spence (3rd) and John Kucera (4th). Steve Nyman got 6th and Jeremy Transue 7th. In the Dec. 15 race it was Kucera with the win, Spence 2nd Fiala 3rd. Tim Jitloff posted sixth. For results check out Canada’s website.

Also in Canada…

FIS races at Mont Tremblant had Maris Lush and Veronique Archambault waging a terrific set of battles. Click here.

In Colorado…

In Rocky Mountain Trophy Series races at Winter Park it was Fiala over Eric Mann with Jeffrey Harrison third and Dominik Schweiger fourth in Winter Park hosted SG Dec. 17. On Dec. 18 junior Andrew Weibrecht collected the win over Transue with Jitloff third. The women also ran two days of super G at Winter Park with Julia Littman pounding the field. Katie Hartman was second and Chelsea Lynch third on the first day and again on the second. Find resutles here.

Back east…

Mattie Ford stopped Christin Lathrop with Hanna Tsai in third to open the Banknorth Eastern Cup series at Sugarloaf with the slalom win Dec. 18

Out west…

And, it JIII Open slalom racing at Boreal, California, Kaylee Cortopassi won handily over Kayla Fry on December 11 and then over Cate Kistler by a half second 12/12. In the men’s events it was Ryan Macken by an eternity over Jake Baker…. twice.

skiracing.com’s Roundups appear three times a week, and cast as wide a net as possible. Click here to see archives.