U.S. racers Marshall, Ciccone pull off NorAm sweep

INVERMERE, B.C. — Chelsea Marshall won a NorAm super G on Tuesday morning at Panorama Ski Area, and Caitlin Ciccone completed a rare two-race sweep by Americans as she won the completion of a super combined event in the afternoon.
INVERMERE, B.C. — Chelsea Marshall won a NorAm super G on Tuesday morning at Panorama Ski Area, and Caitlin Ciccone completed a rare two-race sweep by Americans as she won the completion of a super combined event in the afternoon.
    While World Cup super combined events are a total time for the speed leg and one run of slalom, NorAm officials have agreed that any super combined will include separate scoring for the speed race plus the aggregate time for the speed race — whether it's downhill or super G — and the lone run of slalom.
    Tuesday, Marshall won the super G in 1 minute, 26.66 seconds with Leanne Smith — who was second Monday behind Kaylin Richardson in the opening SG — was second again, this time in 1:27.44. Ciccone was fifth in the super G.
    Later, after the single slalom run, Ciccone had the fastest combined time (2:16.39) with Marshall holding onto second place at 2:16.65. Smith completed the podium (2:17.60) as U.S. women took the top five places and were 10 of the 11 fastest skiers even though defending NorAm SG champion Megan McJames and Keely Kelleher skied off course while they were leading.
    "Conditions were perfect and the girls really went at it," U.S. coach Jim Pollock said. "[Monday] we had a super G course that focused on the ‘super' — pretty straight and really fast. Today, the course focused on the ‘G' and was technical, like a giant slalom, so they had two very different courses and different challenges … and they handled it well. McJames and Kelleher were 1-2 at the split when they went out, but we saw some good racing and the others did well."
    The NorAm schedule at Panorama swings Wednesday to the men with another super G and super combined with a super G Thursday.

Richardson wins opening super G
INVERMERE, B.C. — Kaylin Richardson nailed a straight and fast course Monday to win the opening NorAm super G of the 2007 season. Fellow American Leanne Smith was second as U.S. skiers filled six of the first 10 places.
    Richardson, continuing to gain experience beyond her normal gate-running strength, was timed in 1:18.51 on the Panorama Ski Area run with Smith down in 1:19.23.
    Other Americans in the top 10 included Keely Kelleher fourth, Kiley Staples seventh and Ann West and Caitlin Ciccone tied for ninth.

ALPINE NORAM CUP
Invermere, BC – Dec. 11, 2006
Women's Super G
1. Kaylin Richardson, Edina, Minnesota, 1:18.51
2. Leanne Smith, Conway, New Hampshire, 1:19.23
3. Emilie DesForges, Canada
4. Keeley Kelleher, Big Sky, Montana, 1:19.84
5. Marie-Michele Gagnon, Canada, 1:19.92

Click here for complete results.

ALPINE NORAM CUP
Invermere, BC – Dec. 12, 2006
Women's Super G-2
1. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, Vermont, 1:26.66
2. Leanne Smith, Conway, New Hampshire, 1:27.44
3. Marie-Pier Prefontaine, Canada, 1:27.72
4. Emilie DesForges, Canada, 1:28.01
5. Caitlin Ciccone, Bethlehem, New Hampshire, 1:28.10

Women's Super Combined (SG/SL)
1. Caitlin Ciccone, Bethlehem, New Hampshire, 2:16.39
2. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, Vermont, 2:16.65
3. Leanne Smith, Conway, New Hampshire, 2:17.60
4. Laurel Carter, Norwich, Vermont, 2:17.81
5. Jenny Lathrop, North Conway, New Hampshire, 2:17.85

Click here for complete results.