Photo: USST

Monday, April 3rd, Sun Valley Idaho, the National Championship slalom featured soft snow and motivated athletes. Due to new snowfall, the athletes powered through bumpy conditions while the course crew worked hard to keep the track safe and fair.

MEN

Wearing bib number one Stifel US Alpine member Jett Seymour threw down the fastest first run. Despite experiencing less pristine conditions while running 30th on the second run, his first-run lead set him up to win the race by (-0.84) seconds.

This is the second time that Seymour has been the slalom National Champion. He also won the discipline at the 2022 Sugarloaf National Championship. In an interview with the USST, it was clear that he was excited to end the season on this note.

“It’s nice to cap off a hectic year in Europe with some unbelievable highs and lows with a win here,” said Seymour.  “Skiing was good today I turned it on and I am happy with it.”

Luke Winters finished in second place and Jay Poulter rounded out the podium in third. Both men had fast second runs but weren’t quite quick enough to close the gap on Seymour. Regardless, Winters had a positive look on the day.

“It’s all fun here, I tried to win but Jett is skiing well so I was not quite close enough first run,” said Winters.

Poulter also expressed that he was happy with the result, especially with his performance on his second run.

“I am super stoked and excited to lay down two good runs, my skiing was good and run two I was pretty dialed and it was good,” said Poulter.

Top 10 Men

WOMEN

Independent Lila Lapanja won the women’s slalom.

Lapanja has earned national titles in past years, including the alpine combined and GS titles in the 2021 National Championships hosted in Aspen/Highlands. However, this is her first slalom title. This is a goal she has worked towards for years.

“I have wanted this since I have been racing U.S. Nationals, here we are 12 years later,” said Lapanja. “I think we are all tired at this point in the year so I knew I had to focus on some good technical skiing and that would carry me to the finish.”

Dasha Romanov finished in second, (+0.43) seconds slower than Lapanja. It is Romanov’s home hill, making this result even sweeter.

“This is so unexpected, and I am so happy to put such a great day together, this was the last slalom race of the year so I am happy to go out with a bang,” said Romanov. “I am really happy with the progress I have made coming back from injury so really happy to finish it up here.”

In third place was Norwegian Kristiane Bekkestad. Bekkestad is currently a junior at Montana State University.

Top 10 Women

The women’s GS is scheduled for April 4. The men have a day off and will race GS on Wednesday, April 5th.

Quotes courtesy of the USST