OCR Text |
Show NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SKI RESULTS COPPER MT., COLO.: Over three days marked by superb weather, excellent snow conditions and a strong show of competition and enthusiasm, members of the U.S. Alpine Team and divisional racers shared the laurels in the U.S. National Alpine Championships held here February 26-28. These races were perhaps the best national races ever held in this country as judged by the low international penalty points held in the competitions. The only racer to retail the 1975 title was Cindy Nelson who won the 1976 Women's Slalom race on February 28. Cindy, recovering from the flu, did not compete in the Downhill race on February 26 and arrived at Copper Mountain to enter the Giant Slalom on February 27, but without time to inspect the course. The downhill laurels went to Greg Jones and Susie Patterson with Karl Anderson and Viki Fleckenstein taking second place. Andy Mill and Gail Blackburn captured third. The Women's Downhill was a particularly close race with .61 of a second separating separat-ing the top three finishers. In the Giant Slalom on February 27, Geoff Bruce and Lindy Cochran took the 1976 titles. Lindy was nearly two seconds ahead of the field with Viki Fleckenstein taking second place and Chrisin Cooper, the newest Can-Am team member, capturing third. Pete Patterson was second in the Men's Giant Slalom and Ron Fuller was third with only .38 of a second between the top four finishers for the two runs of the Men's Giant Slalom. The Men's Slalom title was won by Cary Adgate, with Phil Mahre in second and Ron Fuller again taking third. For the women, Mary Seaton was right behind Cindy Nelson for second place and Christin Copper took third. The overall winners for the best combined results in all three events were Cary Adgate, Greg Jones and Geoff Bruce. With the Women's Combined, laurels go to Viki Fleckenstein, Gail Blackburn and Leslie Smith. |