USST's Daron Rahlves and Lindsey Kildow win national championship super G

USST’s Daron Rahlves and Lindsey Kildow win national championship super GMen’s super G: Daron Rahlves, exacting revenge for the beating he took in the previous day’s downhill, won the national championship super G at Alyeska, Alaska.

“Today I was sticking my head through panels,” said Rahlves, showing off fresh marks on his helmet. “I was slamming through gates trying to cut the line off. … I’ve missed the last two years of Nationals because of injuries, so it’s cool to be here especially because I haven’t been to Alaska in a long time.”

The course, set by the U.S. Ski Team’s head DH/SG coach John McBride, was exceedingly turny. The race began at 9:00, and although skies were clear, the whole course was plunged in shade.

Andre Horton, racing in what he said might be his last speed race, was in third-place at the end of the top seed. It looked to be an emotional final super G race for the Alaska native, who was dropped from the U.S. Ski Team roster last year and has been trying to re-qualify all year. But then Dane Spencer, starting 19th, came down and finished second, knocking Horton off the podium.

Jake Fiala, of Frisco, Colorado, was third. “I’ve had a first, a second and a third in national championships now,” said Fiala. “So now I’m going to start the cycle again next year and win.”

The top junior of the day, Andrew Weibrecht, was seventh. The result qualifies him for the U.S. Ski Team’s C Team. “It’s a huge relief,” said the New York native, who will now receive funding for his training and racing (previously he was with the development team, which has limited funding).

Kevin Francis, the C Team athlete who got injured the day before, will fly home. He has extensive ligament damage in his right knee.

Bode Miller, crowned the night before the race as the 2004 Chevy Truck/Ski Racing Skier of the Year (male category), finished 12th after a mistake-filled run.

As soon as the race was over, coaches began re-setting the course for the women’s race, which begins at 12:00, and will be followed by the annual Return of the Champions race, in which U.S. Ski Team alums compete on teams alongside regional team racers.

Women’s super G: The first racer kicked out of the start of the women’s super G at 12:30 p.m. with the hill bathed in sunshine and the temperatures moderating.

The early racers jockeyed for position, but it was Lindsey Kildow with bib number 13 who took over the lead and then held on for her first national championship win. Julia Mancuso finished in the runner-up position for the second consecutive day, while Libby Ludlow earned her second bronze medal of the Championships.

A fall in yesterday’s downhill left Kildow with a minor concussion, a cut on her chin, and knots in her back, and she was unsure about starting the super G. “I didn’t know if I was going to race,” said Kildow. “I was worried if I’d remember the course. Yesterday really shook me up, I think it was the most nervous I’d ever been.”

On a course which Kildow described as a “cruiser,” she put her nerves aside and just focused on relaxing. “I wanted to just ski, not think about it,” said Kildow.

For defending super G champion, Mancuso, second place brought mixed emotions. “Sure, I’m disappointed not to defend my title,” she said. “It’s always good to win, but I’ve trained mostly in technical events this year, so I’m not used to the timing. I got more confidence in yesterday’s downhill, so I’m pleased.”

Ludlow may have earned the bronze, but her effort exacted a heavy price. Coming through the finish, Ludlow clutched at her leg and was dripping blood from a cut on her chin. After getting cleaned up, Ludlow explained, “Oh, I took out a gate after the waterfall. It cut my speed in half; I can’t even remember the next eight gates.” Showing her competitive nature, she then added, “Damn, I was going for the win.”

Finishing a surprise fourth was Kaylin Richardson. Known primarily for her technical skills, Richardson nailed the long sweeping turns on the bottom of the course to move up from 11th at the first interval to fourth. “This is only my second super G of the season,” said a beaming Richardson, who added with a laugh, “Now my parents are worried that I’ll become a speed skier.”

She only had a moment to ponder the question, however, as the top racers qiuckly gathered their gear together and headed over to the adjacent hill to race once again in the Return of the Champions competition.