Pat Deneen of Cle Elum finished sixth in moguls at a World Cup event in France today. He was the top American finisher. Deneen, who turns 21 on Christmas day, was named to the freestyle team Dec. 16.
A tower supporting the Excalibur Gondola at Whistler Blackcomb partially collapsed this afternoon leaving several skiers and snowboarders trapped.
Ten people were injured according to the Vancouver Sun.
Here are some links to coverage:
– The Associated Press
– The Vancouver Sun
– The Globe and Mail.
Photo: The Canadian Press
From the U.S. Ski Team:
…Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) took her fifth win in as many years at Lake Louise in blustery conditions Friday. Starting 16th, Vonn jumped into the lead after the first split, then gained two more tenths to finish .61 seconds ahead of Italy’s Nadia Fanchini who came in second. Maria Riesch of Germany was third, .69 seconds off Vonn.
“It’s amazing. It’s awesome to have a feeling like I have on this hill. I know it so well,” Vonn said. “It seemed like such a short time ago that I was going for three
From the U.S. Ski Team. Will Brandenburg was born in Walla Walla and attended Mead High in Spokane.
2009 ALPINE NORAM CUP
Loveland, CO – Dec. 2, 2008
Men’s slalom
1. Trevor White, Canada, 1:33.09
2. Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 1:33.57
3. Will Brandenburg, Dakota Dunes, SD, 1:33.60
4. Sandro Viletta, Switzerland, 1:33.64
5. Jimmy Cochran, Keene, NH, 1:33.86
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Other U.S. in top 15
12. Tim Kelly, Starksboro, VT, 1:34.19
14. Charles Christianson, Anchorage, 1:34.33
From the U.S. Ski Team:
One of the longest standing teams in the Paralympics is changing its name to better reflect the high level of athleticism of its members to become the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team. Formerly known as the disabled team, the new Adaptive Team includes both alpine and cross country skiing in a program managed under the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), the parent organization of the U.S. Ski Team.
2010 Olympic organizers announced the route for the torch relay today. The route covers 35,000 kilometers.
Click here to check out an interactive map of the route.
From the U.S. Ski Team:
…World Cup overall and downhill champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) fell during a routine training session for super G Wednesday at Copper Mountain in Colorado. She was seen at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic at the Vail Valley Medical Center and released Wednesday afternoon pending further observation by doctors.
According to U.S. Ski Team Medical Director Richard Quincy, she was seen by the U.S. Women’s Alpine Ski Team’s Dr. William Sterett who indicated that she suffered a bruised left knee; there was no ligament or cartilage damage. A decision on her return is pending further
Chris Pleasants, Zach Radmer, Bret Nordlund, and Jon Chartrand from Seattle’s Granite Curling Club (www.curlingseattle.org) defeated Brian Caldwell’s Minnesota team 9-4 in a tiebreaker on Sunday afternoon to win the World University Games U.S. Team Trials in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. With the victory, the foursome earned the right to become Team USA, and will represent the United States in curling at the 2009 Winter World University Games in Harbin, China, February 20th- 27th, 2009.