USSA Crowns Central Division
Junior Olympians
Colin Vogel of Great
Lakes Ski Academy races
to the downhill win.
Brewster McVicker, the USSA Central Division
director of competition and development, stood
before hundreds of anxious athletes and their
parents, and broke the ice by reminding them that
the Central Division is the home of world champions.
“Where did Lindsey Vonn begin her skiing career?”
he asked the crowd. The athletes quickly replied in
unison, “Central Nation!”
So began the awards ceremony culminating
three days of intense competition, from Feb. 24
to 26, to determine this year’s representatives
from the Central Division to the Rocky/Central
Junior Championships. The annual competition
at Marquette Mountain, Mich., brings together
the top J3 and J4 alpine skiers from Minnesota,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri
— along with several competitors from Ontario
— each trying to secure a spot to Colorado for the
Junior Championships. The J3 skiers competed
in downhill, slalom, and giant slalom races for 44
boys’ spots and 36 girls’ spots. Similarly, J4 girl and
boy skiers competed in super G, giant slalom, and
slalom for a chance to represent the Midwest in
Steamboat Springs.
JUSTIN GOT TLIEB
SkiRacing.com MARCH 17, 2011 | 43
