Allie Resnick hopeful for Sölden PHOTO: Gepa

The USST invited all eligible women to a time trial to determine who would use the available start spots for the Sölden World Cup. However, with only one accepting her invitation, start positions were available for all the athletes wanting to participate. The single non-USST member will be Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club’s Stella Johansson. Johansson is stepping up to the World Cup after starting in five Europa Cup GS races last season. Sölden will be the 19-year-old’s first World Cup. The USST has invited her to start training tomorrow with the national team women to prepare for Saturday’s race.

Johansson will join defending champion Mikaela Shiffrin, BMA, and veteran star Paula Moltzan, SSCV, for the first World Cup of the season. The race is on the challenging Austrian Rettenbach glacier. Depending on the health of Nina O’Brien and Allie Resnick, the US may start as many as seven women. USST member Katie Hensien, RMA, has started in 20 World Cup but this will only be her fourth GS. Additionally, last year’s NorAm overall winner Ava Sunshine Jemison, BMA, will start in her first World Cup. Hopefully, Allie Resnick, SSCV, will be able to join Jemison at the start. Resnick suffered an injury in New Zealand and recently returned to snow. Resnick has a personal continental cup event champion’s start spot in GS, which only she can utilize.

Ski Racing Media is happy to see both athletes return from their injuries. It would be exciting to see O’Brien and Resnick in the start Saturday, but the decision will be made close to game time. We will keep you up to date.

Additionally, Swiss Ski announced the names today of the nine women who will start in Sölden.

• Michelle Gisin
• Lara Gut-Behrami
• Camille Rast
• Wendy Holdener
• Andrea Ellenberger
• Simone Wild
• Corinne Suter
• Vivianne Härri
• Vanessa Kasper

Don’t forget, tomorrow, October 18th, five men will time trial for a single starting position in Sölden. Consequently, the USST will invite the fastest from the qualifier to the Sölden World Cup GS on Sunday. They will join River Radamus, Tommy Ford and Ryan Cochran-Siegle. Ski Racing Media will let you know who won the qualifier as soon as possible.