Two men and one woman was named to the U.S Olympic Alpine Team. Jimmy Cochran was not a big surprise. He’s led the Americans in slalom all season long and qualified with a 9th place under objective criteria. Chelsea Marshall and Nolan Kasper, were discretionary picks.
Marshall is a terrific speed skier, and she’s slated to compete in super g and maybe the combined. Kasper is the 2009 World Junior bronze medalist in slalom, so he wil join Cochran on the four-man team.
Bode Miller, from New Hampshire (we have adopted him as an honorary Vermonter – he would be pleased to know) will gun for gold in all four events, pending a healthy ankle. Miller won the super combined at Wengen two weeks ago and will be a threat to the podium in all events.
The US had more spots become available to them at the last minute, allowing them to bring the full 22 athletes. Below is the Vancouver-bound alpine team.
Men
Will Brandenburg, Spokane, WA, 23, 1/1/87
Jimmy Cochran, Richmond, VT, 28, 5/29/81 (2006)
Erik Fisher, Middleton, ID, 24, 3/21/1985
Tommy Ford, Bend, OR, 20, 3/20/89
Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 25, 1/11/1985
Nolan Kasper, Warren, VT, 20, 3/27/89
Ted Ligety, Park City, UT, 25, 8/31/84 (2006)
Bode Miller, Franconia, NH, 32, 10/12/77 (1998, 2002, 2006)*
Steven Nyman, Sundance, UT, 28, 2/12/82 (2006)
Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 29, 4/27/80 (2002, 2006)
Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 24, 2/10/86
Jake Zamansky, Aspen, CO, 28, 6/26/81
Women
Stacey Cook, Mammoth Mountain, CA, 25, 7/3/84 (2006)
Hailey Duke, Boise, ID, 24, 9/17/85
Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA, 25, 3/9/84 (2002, 2006)
Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 27, 11/15/82
Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 22, 9/24/87
Alice McKennis, Glenwood Springs, CO, 20, 8/19/89
Kaylin Richardson, Edina, MN, 25, 9/28/1984
Sarah Schleper, Vail, CO, 30, 2/19/79 (1998, 2002, 2006)
Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 22, 5/28/87
Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 25, 10/18/84 (2002, 2006)
*adopted Vermonter
Third post, 4:07 p.m.: Cochran 19th, Kasper 24th at Schladming
What a race! That was some seriously fun skiing to watch on an incredibly icy hill.
Jimmy Cochran finished up 19th, just behind teammate Ted Ligety, and Nolan Kasper, a Burke Mountain Academy graduate, scored his first World Cup points in 24th. Cochran will surely be named to the Olympic Team – his 9th place finish this year qualifies him objectively – and in a few short minutes/hours, we’ll know if Kasper has been named.
The team delayed it’s announcement yesterday, and it’s past the deadline they set for today – so hopefully we’ll hear soon. Two Vermonters on the Alpine team is better than one, the saying goes.
In other news, I just got off the phone with Andy Newell and Liz Stephen, VT’s cross country skiers, and I’ll have story ready for y’all soon. Stay tuned.
Second post 1:30 p.m.: Cochran, Kasper make 2nd run in Schladming
The first run of Schladming’s famous night slalom race in Austria has just ended and Jimmy Cochran, of Richmond, sits in 12th place – ahead of Ted Ligety and Bode Miller. Also in the mix is Nolan Kasper of Warren. He started bib number 56 and finished 29th of 30 taken to run two.
With the final spots on the men’s alpine Olympic team very much up in the air, Kasper’s performance could be the ticket to Vancouver. Qualifying for a second run the first time starting at Schladming, a technically difficult (understatement) hill is impressive. Last weekend, he qualified at Kitzbuhel, hiked and finished too far out to get World Cup points. But qualifying caught the eye of coaches. This guy Kasper is one to watch. Last year at World Junior Championships he was third. Today marks his third World Cup start.
Original post, 11:19 a.m.: Alpine Team Shrinks
If there is any proof that what we die-hards following the U.S. Ski Team for the past four years have noted – the Team has a few very bright stars and not much depth – this is it: Instead of being able to send a full team of 22 athletes, based on our strength, the U.S. will be sending 18 to Vancouver. The determination of team size is made by the International Olympic Committee, in charge of doling out spots. In 2006, the U.S. sent 22, and countries like Switzerland, Italy and Austria will send the full 22 this time around.
This is what has delayed the Team’s selection announcement from yesterday until today. Today, the committee selecting the 2010 team will find out if any other nations will leave spots unfilled, and the U.S. may get the chance to add a few more athletes. In addition, there are some very difficult decisions to make because the team criteria is so subjective. Only 10 athletes met the objective criteria for the Vancouver-bound team. Athletes like Chelsea Marshall, Nolan Kasper, Erik Fisher, Tim Jitloff, Kaylin Richardson and Hailey Duke are the tough calls.
