Domestic Roundup: Spyder supports Canada, Koz feeling good, Hudec recovers, resorts opening

Domestic Roundup: Spyder supports Canada, Koz feeling good, Hudec recovers, resorts openingSpyder Active Sports Inc. will support Canada’s national alpine racing program for four additional years under an extended sponsorship agreement valued at more than $4 million, Alpine Canada Alpin announced Tuesday. The Boulder-based company will now provide racing suits, outerwear, and funding to Canada’s national alpine racing programs through to 2011, extending a five-year agreement initially signed in 2002, President Ken Read said.

“Spyder supports winners and we intend to be winners,” said national speed-team veteran Emily Brydon. “Spyder supported us when we started rebuilding and it will be great to have them around to see the results of their strong commitment to alpine racing in Canada.” Added Thomas Grandi, star of the men’s technical team: “Their suits are fast. First the American used then, and then us, and now even the Austrians are using Spyder.”

The announcement was made as Canada for the first time prepared to host the opening speed men’s races of the international World Cup season at Lake Louise this weekend. “The sponsorship extension ensures Canada’s top alpine athletes will have access to the best technology and will continue to sport the best possible racing apparel as it pursues the goal of being a world racing leader by 2010,” added Read.

“The momentum and growth within the Canadian alpine racing programs has been truly exceptional and we wanted to continue to contribute to the success of its programs and athletes,” said 1957 Canadian downhill ski champion, David Jacobs, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Spyder. “As a flag-waving Canadian through my racing and coaching days, I know Spyder speedsuits will help the Canadian Alpine Ski Team achieve its goals.” Mr. Jacobs, a former Canadian national team racer and the organization’s first ever full-time head coach from 1964 to 1966, has built Spyder from a start on his Boulder, Colorado kitchen table in 1978 into an internationally renowned industry leader.

Spyder’s suits meet rigid safety and performance criteria set by the International Ski Federation. The company is an Official Supplier to the Canadian Alpine and Canadian Freestyle Ski Teams, US Alpine, and Austrian National Teams. Spyder’s Europe office is in Baar, Switzerland. The company’s mantra comes from president David Jacobs: “Athletes and competition always have been and always will be Spyder’s soul.” -ACA press release

In other Canadian news, Jan Hudec to make comeback

Jan Hudec, the Canadian downhiller who tore his ACL while contesting the Birds of Prey race last year, is ready to return to action this weekend at Lake Louise, according to a report on a Canadian website, Slam. The story quotes a positive-minded Hudec as saying, “I’ve worked hard to get healthy again and I believe I’m in even better shape now than I was then, so I am heading into this season with a high level of confidence.” Read the full story here.

Catching up with Koz

Ski Racing’s nordic correspondent Paul Robbins caught up with Kristina Koznick on the phone just as she was driving into Aspen for the upcoming alpine World Cup’s there. Koznick was delighted with her performance at a Rocky Mountain Trophy Series on Sunday. ‘The slalom [in Breckenridge] was awesome’ said Koznick. ‘It’s been a long time since I just went out of the start and went as fast as I could. With these new skis over the last few years, I’ve always been adjusting, or checking something else there was always something to check. But this time I just went.

Koz beat what was essentially a World Cup field, as the world’s top alpine skiers had descended on Colorado in the weeks leading up to the Aspen World Cups, November 26, 27 and 28. ‘It was a pretty good field’ says Koznick in a bit of understatement. Janica Kostelic, Nicole Hosp, Elisabeth Goergl and Laurie Pequenot were in the race and behind Koznick on the results sheet.

Park City Mountain Resort opens

Park City Mountain Resort kicks off the 2004-2005 season on Wednesday, November 24, 2004, with six chairlifts, 34 runs and five bowl areas scheduled to open. “The last couple days of cold temperatures have given us what we need to get the mountain in excellent condition,” said Peter Curtis, president and general manager of Park City Mountain Resort. “Our guests will experience great skiing and riding from the top of Jupiter Peak to the base of Payday.”-press release

Snowmass and Aspen Mountains open on Thanksgiving

Snowmass and Aspen Mountains will open for the season on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25 giving Aspen/Snowmass 257 acres of skiing/riding terrain. Aspen Mountain will open to Women’s FIS racers as the FIS Alpine World Cup goes down November 26-28. Both mountains will have limited terrain open due to early-season conditions. Join the fastest women in the world in the Aspen tradition of World Cup racing as they compete on Aspen Mountain on Friday the 26th through Sunday the 28th in GS and super G races. Watch U.S. racers Kirsten Clark, Lindsey Kildow and Sarah Schleper ski for glory against others to watch including Croatia’s Janica Kostelic and Sweden’s Anja Paerson. ‘The best skiing and snowboarding action is on Snowmass with top-to-bottom terrain from the top of The Burn to Fanny Hill. When your ski day is done, head to Aspen Mountain and check out World Cup action’ said Mike Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Operation for Aspen Skiing Company. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open for the season as scheduled on December 11.-press release