Led by Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves, Lindsey Kildow and Julia Mancuso, nine men and 10 women were named to the U.S. Olympic Alpine Team during the SIA.06 Snowsports trade show in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Fourteen of the athletes have been to previous Olympics, and eight are three-time Olympians.
"This is an incredibly talented group of athletes. We've never had such a wealth of experience at this level," said U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. "Not only do we have more than a dozen Olympians from previous Games, but eight of them have won World Cup races or medaled at the World Championships."
Miller skied to two silver medals at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and became the first American since 1983 to win the overall alpine World Cup title last season, which included a gold medal in downhill and super G at the World Championships. Rahlves, the most successful U.S. male speed skier, has won 11 World Cup races, including three this season, and had two medals at the 2005 Worlds. Kildow, a four-event skier, has won two downhills this season and Mancuso collected two bronze medals at the 2005 World Championships.
All Olympic nominations submitted by the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding are subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
The Olympians will continue with World Cup races this weekend. The men will race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and the women will compete in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Some racers will take time to rest and relax before the Games in Torino, Italy, Feb. 10-26, Hunt said.
Following is a list of the 2006 Olympic Alpine Team, including age, hometown, and previous Olympics.
MEN
Jimmy Cochran, 24, Keene, N.H.
Chip Knight, 31, Stowe, Vt. (1998, 2002 Olympics)
Ted Ligety, 21, Park City, Utah
Scott Macartney, 28, Redmond, Wash. (2002)
Bode Miller, 28, Bretton Woods, N.H. (1998, 2002)
Steve Nyman, 23, Orem, Utah
Daron Rahlves, 32, Sugar Bowl, Calif. (1998, 2002)
Erik Schlopy, 33, Park City, Utah (1994, 2002)
Marco Sullivan, 25, Squaw Valley, Calif. (2002)
WOMEN
Kirsten Clark, 28, Raymond, Maine (1998, 2002)
Stacey Cook, 21, Truckee, Calif.
Lindsey Kildow, 21, Vail, Colo. (2002)
Kristina Koznick, 30, Eagan, Minn. (1998, 2002)
Caroline Lalive, 26, Steamboat Springs, Colo. (1998, 2002)
Libby Ludlow, 24, Bellevue, Wash.
Julia Mancuso, 21, Olympic Valley, Calif. (2002)
Kaylin Richardson, 21, Edina, Minn.
Sarah Schleper, 26, Vail, Colo. (1998, 2002)
Resi Stiegler, 20, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
