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SG Titles Go To Cook and Francis
SUGARLOAF, Maine (March 23) - The U.S. Ski Team's Kevin Francis (Bend, OR) and Stacey Cook (Mammoth, CA) won super G titles on a sunny Easter Sunday as the 2008 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships concluded their second day of competition.
The win was Francis' first U.S. title, marking his 11th podium of the season and his sixth win. Francis was also crowned the NorAm super G champion this season.
"This is probably my biggest win of the year. Super G had been good to me this year. I love my Atomic skisI've just had a good feeling with super G that's hard to find, but once you have it, you just go with it and it seems to work," Francis said. "Coming down the pitch, I thought I set it up a little too much, but it actually ended up working out because I actually ended up carrying out more speed into the flat.
"Then the flat was just switching gears and going fast. I had a great time today."
Bryon Friedman (Park City, UT) finished second and took a moment at the finish to remember the late and dearly missed writer Paul Robbins.
"I miss Paul Robbins, that's for sure. It would be nice to have him in the finish today," Friedman said.
Friedman, who remembered racing his first Nationals at Sugarloaf with Tommy Moe, said that the course suited his racing style.
"I've been waiting all season to have good snow, good conditions and a good start position," Friedman said. "I'm more of a glider and downhiller and this is my course."
Cook's win was her second U.S. Championship title. Her first was also a SG, two years ago at Sugarloaf.
"I didn't ski one section as cleanly as I had hoped, but things just ended up on the right side of the clock today. It was a tight set and I was pretty prepared for that but it still surprised me a little bit," Cook said. "It's surprising [to win again at Sugarloaf] because I'm not a fan of the cold here, but as far as racing goes I seem to get along well here. I'm just really psyched. It's another national title and you can never complain about that."
Leanne Smith (Conway, NH) took second place and Katie Hitchcock (Carmichael, CA) was third. Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), who won the women's slalom a day earlier, was fourth.
The 2008 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships continue Monday with men's and women's downhill.
MULTIMEDIA:
For photos from this race click here.
For audio from this race click here.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2008 NATURE VALLEY U.S. ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sugarloaf, ME - March 23, 2008
Super G
Men
1. Kevin Francis, Bend, OR, 1:19.62
2. Bryon Friedman, Park City, UT, 1:19.73
3. Marco Sullivan, Squaw Valley, CA, 1:19.96
4. Andrew Weibrecht, Lake Placid, NY, 1:20.50
5. Christopher Beckmann, Guilderland, NY, 1:20.64
Women
1. Stacey Cook, Mammoth, CA, 1:15.00
2. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 1:15.05
3. Katie Hitchcock, Carmichael, CA, 1:15.53
4. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:15.72
5. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 1:16.56
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SG Titles Go To Cook and Francis
