Hailey Duke, 20, who grew up in the Wood River Valley doing Taekwondo under the tutelage of her father Master Larry Duke, is making a name for herself in alpine skiing.
Duke won Wednesday's women's slalom at the Western Series FIS (International Ski Federation) Finals on Picabo's run at Park City, Utah. She was 2.10 seconds faster than runner-up Kimberly Stephens, 21, of Park City. There were 43 finishers in the two-run race.
It was Duke's third victory of the 2004-05 season in an FIS slalom race. She won at Telluride Feb. 21 where she also had two podiums in giant slalom, and Duke also prevailed in slalom at Snow King, Wyo. Feb. 5.
Although she grew up in the Wood River Valley, Duke attended Capital High School in Boise and lists her race affiliation as Boise State University.
In 2001 and 2002, she won bronze medals in the lightweight class at the U.S. National Taekwondo Championships. Duke started Taekwondo training at the age of four in Sun Valley under her father.
At nationals in Mammoth Mountain, Ca. next week, Duke hopes to improve upon her results at last year's U.S. Alpine Nationals, where Duke was 23rd slalom, 33rd giant slalom and 39th super giant slalom.
In Tuesday's women's giant slalom on CB's Run at Park City, Sun Valley Ski Team racer McKenna Peterson had an excellent result with a 15th place out of 50 two-run finishers. Sara Berman was 26th and Charlie Baser 46th.
Former Sun Valley ski teamer Miles Fink-Debray was ninth in Tuesday's men's GS and ninth in Wednesday's SL. Other local placings:
Tuesday GS: 21—Willi Cannell. 23—Bryce Newcomb. 37—Corey Bellinger. 38—John Anderson. 44—John Campbell. 53—Ford Hebard. 70—Ryon Campbell. 81—Tyler Chandler.
Wednesday SL: 20—Willi Cannell. 26—Ben Luck. 28—Corey Bellinger. 32—Bryce Newcomb. 36—John Anderson. 40—Ford Hebard. 73—Ryon Campbell.
