American places
second in World Cup slalom
Bode Miller breaks
14-year jinx in Aspen
American
ski racers had a great showing at the Chevy Truck Winternational World Cup
in Aspen, Colorado, Nov. 25-26.
On Monday,
Bode Miller shattered a 14-year slalom drought, becoming the first
American to place in the top three since 1988 when Felix McGrath was
runner-up to Alberto Tomba at Are, Switzerland.
After
finishing in 16th on the first run, Miller smoked the second
and held the leader position until reigning world slalom champion Mario
Matt (AUS) came through in 1:39.08 to win by 6/10ths of a second.
"It’s
nice to get that one into the finish," Miller remarked.
Hometown
boy became hometown hero Sunday as Casey Puckett finished 14th
in a World Cup slalom at Aspen, Colorado.
Puckett
paced three Americans in the top 30 in the best World Cup slalom finish of
his career. Previously, his best WC slalom finish was 16th in
Chamonix, France in 1994.
"I
could hear the crowd all the way down the course," Puckett said.
"It’s a good feeling."
Despite
having to hike back up in order to complete gates, Erik Schlopy (Park
City) and Bode Miller (Franconia, N.H.), finished 25th and 26th,
respectively.
Puckett was
22nd after the first run and had a strong second effort to
finish with a combined time of 1:40.53. He was 9.92 seconds off the
first-place pace of Ivica Kostelic of Croatia (1:38.81). Kostelic set a
record by coming out of the starting gate 64th to win the race.
Never has a competitor come from so deep in the field to post a World Cup
win.
Italian
Georgio Rocca was second in 1:38.93. Mario Matt was third in 1:39 flat.
The women’s
World Cup Tour made a stop at Copper Mountain, Colorado Wednesday and
Thursday.
In slalom
racing on Thanksgiving, American racer Kristina Koznick (Burnsville,
Minn.) tied for sixth place in a race won by Frenchwoman Laure Pequegnot.
Pequegnot,
wearing a black armband in memory of her late teammate Regine Cavagnoud,
posted a winning time of 1:37.64. Austrians Christine Sponring (1:37.81)
and Carina Raich (1:38.72) were second and third in a field of 68.
Koznick,
the only American to complete both runs, timed out at 1:39.10.
Starting 50th,
Kirsten Clark (2:25.27) of Raymond, Maine claimed ninth place in a women’s
giant slalom Wednesday.
Norway’s
Andrine Flemmen won the race in 2:23.81. Sarah Schleper of Vail was 30th
in 2:27.32.
The speed
skiers are on deck for the next round of races on the women’s World Cup
tour.
U.S. speed
skiers, including Picabo Street, will be at Lake Louise, Canada for a pair
of downhills and a super G, Nov. 29-Dec. 1.