While Lindsey Vonn has been racking up the points this season to hold a commanding overall lead in World Cup, a more local star, Hannah Kearney from Norwich, Vt., hauled in her 14th consecutive World Cup win last weekend at Deer Valley, Utah.
Under the lights and in front of a capacity crowd, Kearney made five competition runs in a dual moguls contest. Another American, Heather McPhie from Bozeman, Mont., chased Kearney through three rounds and settled for second place, and Canadian Justine Duford-Lapointe was third.
Kearney, an Olympic gold medalist and current World Cup tour leader, told Ski Racing magazine that the dual race format on the Deer Valley course always had vexed her, but that she broke through in the Friday night event.
Advertisement
“I never won duals on this course, and it feels great,’’ said Kearney, who grew up skiing as a member of Waterville Valley’s Black and Blue Trail Smashers Ski Club. “Dual moguls can feel more satisfying because you have to ski more runs. Especially when everybody skied well against me and it’s just a long day [with] back-to-back competitions.’’
Just missing the men’s podium was Jeremy Cota from Carrabassett Valley in Maine.
Lovely idea
There are many theme events on various holidays through the year, with skiing Santa Clauses, leprechauns, Easter Bunnies, and the like.
On Valentine’s Day at Okemo in Vermont is The Running of the Bridesmaids, at which skiers and riders are asked to show up at the ticket window in items of wedding finery and formal wear. Those who do will get a discounted day ticket of $59, free chicken wings, and a photograph. Wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and tuxedos are among the suggested items.
Said Okemo spokeswoman Bonnie McPherson of the first-time Valentine’s Day theme: “I don’t think I’ve ever had so many e-mail responses to a press release. Just think of all those [never a bride] bridesmaids with closets full of prom dresses.’’ She added that prizes may be given for the best costumes.
Advertisement
Packed power
As the college season gets underway, Ski Racing magazine has published its latest NCAA power rankings, with two New England teams in the top four.
No. 1 was last year’s NCAA champion, Utah.
Vermont was second, despite the fact that it lost its own carnival. (The reason was chalked up to a calendar glitch - the same weekend as the carnival, UVM’s Alpine team was in Vail, Colo., racing in an FIS NorAm event.)
Colorado was third and Dartmouth, which won the UVM carnival, was fourth.
According to the magazine’s C.J. Feehan, not only are the Big Green strong across the Alpine team, but the Nordic squad “has so much depth that it’s hard to identify any weakness.’’
Sochi session
Hannes Reichelt of Austria led the opening World Cup training session on the 2014 Sochi Olympics downhill course yesterday.
With bright sunshine and good, hard snow conditions in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, Reichelt clocked 2 minutes, 12.91 seconds down the steep and technical Rosa Khutor slope.
Skiers said the course requires all-around skills because it was so technical, with few gliding sections. That fits Reichelt, who has won four World Cup super-Gs and one giant slalom, plus posted three podium results in downhill.
Swiss standout Didier Cuche, who has announced he will retire at the end of this season, was second, 0.25 seconds behind, and Benjamin Thomsen of Canada was third, 0.69 behind.
Advertisement
More training sessions are scheduled before racing begins Saturday.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.