Alpine team named for World Ski Championships

The U.S. Ski Team will send nine men and eight women to the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships at Val d’Isere, France.

In an announcement Monday, Alpine Director Jesse Hunt said the team will feature ten Olympians including both defending World Cup champions in Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller. In addition World Cup defending GS champ Ted Ligety will also represent the U.S.

The World Championships will run Feb. 3-15 in the French resort.

NBC will show same weekend coverage of the events Feb. 7-8 and on Sunday Feb. 15.

NBC partner Universalsports.com and Universal Sports TV will broadcast same day coverage throughout the championships including live webcasts. Altogether, more than 100 hours of coverage will come from these two sources.The U.S. Ski Team will send nine men and eight women to the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships at Val d’Isere, France.

In an announcement Monday, Alpine Director Jesse Hunt said the team will feature ten Olympians including both defending World Cup champions in Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller. In addition World Cup defending GS champ Ted Ligety will also represent the U.S.

The World Championships will run Feb. 3-15 in the French resort.

NBC will show same weekend coverage of the events Feb. 7-8 and on Sunday Feb. 15.

NBC partner Universalsports.com and Universal Sports TV will broadcast same day coverage throughout the championships including live webcasts. Altogether, more than 100 hours of coverage will come from these two sources.

Men’s Team
Jimmy Cochran (05/29/81, Keene, NH) * **
Erik Fisher (03/21/85, Middleton, ID)
Tim Jitloff (01/11/85, Reno, NV) *
Ted Ligety (08/31/84, Park City, UT) * **
Bode Miller (10/12/77, Franconia, NH) * **
Steven Nyman (02/12/82, Provo, UT) * **
Marco Sullivan (04/27/80, Squaw Valley, CA) * **
Andrew Weibrecht (02/10/86, Lake Placid, NY)
Jake Zamansky (06/26/81, Park City, UT)

Women’s Team
Stacey Cook (07/03/84, Mammoth, CA)* **
Hailey Duke (09/17/85, Boise, ID)
Julia Mancuso (03/09/84, Olympic Valley, CA) * **
Chelsea Marshall (08/14/86, Pittsfield, VT)
Megan McJames (09/24/87, Park City, UT)
Sarah Schleper (02/19/79, Vail, CO) * **
Resi Stiegler (11/14/85, Jackson Hole, WY)* **
Lindsey Vonn (10/18/84, Vail, CO) * **

* Past World Championships Team member
** Past Olympian

Hunt said the team has taken literal measure of the courses at Val d’Isere. “Our coaching staff has studied the course layouts at Val d’Isere and set specific training programs to prepare our athletes for that terrain,” Hunt said. “We’ve looked at every aspect of this venue and have worked with our athletes and their equipment suppliers to make sure we’re ready to compete.”

In addition he had high praise for the 2009 title meet squad. “We are bringing a powerful team to Worlds. We have seasoned World Championship medallists with Lindsey, Julia (Mancuso) and Bode. Plus Ted (Ligety) Marco (Sullivan), and Steven (Nyman) have success on the World Cup.”

Two athletes sustained unfortunately timed accidents this past weekend and will miss the championships. TJ Lanning and Leanne Smith had each earned the trip but will not be able to participate. “It’s really unfortunate for both TJ and Leanne,” Hunt said. “They had been having sensational seasons and had realistic opportunities to do well at Worlds.”