Show International Stars French Skiing Team Visits Utah Slopes By J. J Dick itz Io-itz Members of the French national I ski team spent Monday viewing the thc Alpine slopes at Alta AHa on a short stopover before traveling tra to Sun l Valley Ida where the Frenchmen will compete in the Harriman cup races Saturday and Sunday The team competed in the North American championships last week weekend see end at Aspen Cob Colo and two of the I members garnered COIO the mens men's and I l women's titles The Idaho races willbe will vill willbe be the final appearance of or the squad before returning to France on April 2 Dr Jean Carle Cane vice president of the F FIS I S Federation de Ski is directing the activitIes activities ac ac- ac- ac of the French during the short American sojourn to the leading ski resorts Heads ds ream Team Heading French team is Henri Ore iller 1948 19 Olympic downhill and combined winner finished ninth in the N. N A A. A. A championships but has been suffering from a sprained ankle and injured ribs caused by a fall faU at Cortina Ital Italy earlier this year Another top racer is Georges George winner of the Aspen combined title and French Olympic team member Other team members include Jean Pazzi French downhill champIon champion cham chain pion plan and winner inner of the N. N A. A downhill downhill down down- hill title last week eek end DeSire Lacroix and Guy de Huertas The only woman member of the team is Lucienne Schmitt-Couttet Schmitt winner vinner of the women's omens combined title at Aspen and Frances France's leading leading lead lead- in ing feminine competitor She is a sister of James Couttet French team captain who was unable to tomake tomake tomake make the American trip Visit Alta I I During the Salt Lake City stop I the team visited the major spots of interest and Altas Alta's slopes while I havin having lunch at the Alta AHa lodge I The French then went to Ogden and left on the Union Pacific train for Sun Valley where they will be guests of the railroad for the Harriman Harriman Har liar riman cup championships According to Dr Carle Cane the team has found the western ski areas to be excellent with tou tough h competition competition com corn petition in the ski races thus far This is the first American trip forthe forthe for forthe I I the French although most of them will return to Aspen for the worlds world's I championships in 1950 I Accompanying the team are I Gretchen Fraser 1948 Olympic women's champion and Charles T. T Carey representing the Union Pacific Pacific Pacific Pa Pa- railroad Joel Priest Jr of the U. U P. P greeted the visiting skiers on their arrival in Salt Lake |