New Castle resident selected for Alpine Junior World team

Staff Report
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
February 10, 2008

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PARK CITY, Utah — It’s been a dream weekend for New Castle’s Alice McKennis.

Not only did she take fourth — and first among Americans — in a Friday downhill race at a Canadian Championships stop in Whistler, British Columbia, but she also learned she was among 14 skiers named to compete for the U.S. Ski Team at the FIS Alpine Junior World Championships later this month.

That means a trip to Formigal, Spain, for the 18-year-old.

McKennis, a product of Rowmark Ski Academy, will have Colorado company at the Feb. 23 through March 1 event as Aspen’s Wiley Maple, Breckenridge’s Katie Hartman and Eagle’s Kirsten Cooper were all picked for the team as well.

“We’re sending a strong team to Junior Worlds and we have expectations of medals,” U.S. alpine director Jesse Hunt said through a U.S. Ski Team release. “This group has some promising younger juniors getting some experience against their international peers, which is so important as they look to advance to the World Cup and beyond.”

U.S. Competition Director Walt Evans will serve as team leader. U.S. alpine coaches John Hale and Randy Pelkey will serve as women’s and men’s team captains, respectively.