Huntsman Cup: Walker, Stephens top podium

The U.S. Disabled Alpine Team opened the 20th annual Huntsman Cup Friday with eight podium finishes in the first of two giant slaloms set for Park City Mountain Resort.

PARK CITY, Utah — The U.S. Disabled Alpine Team opened the 20th annual Huntsman Cup Friday with eight podium finishes in the first of two giant slaloms set for Park City Mountain Resort.
    Leading the American men's charge was Tyler Walker, who burned the sit-ski field by more than three seconds, while Laurie Stephens topped the women's race in a tight battle with teammate Stephani Victor. In the standing event, Sandy Dukat finished second behind Canadian Arly Fogarty and Brad Washburn led the men with fifth.
    "Not bad of a start," said head coach Ray Watkins, "We're always looking to take every podium spot, but it was a great day nonetheless. Tyler laid down the law on both runs and showed why he's the giant slalom world champion and we had another great battle between Carl Burnett [sit-ski] and Gerald Hayden [sit-ski] — it's good to see both of them up there."
    Walker credited his equipment, designed by teammate Kevin Bramble (sit-ski) for the super-fast times.
    "Today felt great, I'm physically in good shape and my KBG [Kevin Bramble Goodz] mono-ski is really dialed — it's like I'm one with the mono-ski," said Walker. "The snow was fast today and that was a surprise with all the powder falling last night, but the race crew did a good job cleaning everything up."
    A swift storm deposited more than half a foot of fresh snow on the course overnight, but course crews did an outstanding job slipping the snow for what skiers said was a very fast first-run course set by U.S. coach Kurt Smitz and an equally fast second run set by the Canadian team.
    "Laurie and Steph had another tight race, just like they did in December at the Ski Spectacular in Breckenridge. Both of them are skiing just as strong as they did at the Paralympics [where Stevens had three medals and Victor claimed gold in slalom]. Then Ricci Kilgore [sit-ski] kicked in the door today. She was knocking on it in Breckenridge, but she kicked it in today."
    For Dukat, who considered retiring after taking slalom bronze at the Paralympics, the event was more of a scrimmage for the upcoming World Cup opener set for Jan. 17-22 in Aspen, Colorado.
    "This was kind of a warm-up," she said, "but even though I didn't feel pressured, there's plenty of top competitors here and tons of racers making the jump to the next level with their skiing. I feel like I'm right on target, even after the Paralympics. You take away that pressure and things really come together. I'm willing to test my limits a lot more. I'll see what I can do tomorrow."
    The Huntsman Cup continues Saturday with another giant slalom before wrapping up Sunday afternoon with slalom.

20th ANNUAL HUNTSMAN CUP
Park City, Utah — Jan. 5, 2007
Giant slalom-1
Men — sit-ski
1. Tyler Walker, Franconia, N.H., 1:57.03
2. Carl Burnett, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 2:00.65
3. Gerald Hayden, Merced, Calif., 2:00.75
4. Sean Rose, (no hometown given), 2:01.31
5. Nick Catanzarite, Winter Park, Colo., 2:02.46
–
Standing
1. Toby Kane, Australia, 1:56.02
2. Camero Rahls-Rahbula, Australia, 1:57.37
3. Adam Hall, New Zealand, 1:57.55
4. Marty Mayberry, Australia, 1:57.78
5. Brad Washburn, Littleton, Colo., 2:00.08
–
Visually impaired
1. Christopher Williamson, Canada, 1:50.99
Guide: Emily Glossop
—
Women — sit-ski
1. Laurie Stephens, Wenham, Wash., 2:11.60
2. Stephani Victor, Park City, Utah, 2:11.79
3. Ricci Kilgore, Reno, Nev., 2:12.69
–
Standing
1. Arly Fogarty, Canada, 2:11.55
2. Sandy Dukat, Vail, Colo., 2:12.23
3. Elitsa Storey, Ketchum, Idaho, 2:14.76
4. Hannah Pennington, Denver, Colo., 2:16.13
5. Andrea Dziewior, Canada, 2:16.82
–
Visually impaired
1. Kathleen Forestell, Canada, 2:31.45
Guide: AJ Brown