Ski Racing - April 16, 2012

Robby Kelley took his first national title in
the GS at Nationals in Winter Park.
Norwegian Leif Haugen took two U.S. National
Championships medals with a second-place finish in
the slalom and a third-place finish in the GS.

Mancuso and Shiffrin combined for four medals
at 2012 U.S. Nationals.

would be calling it a day after the slalom and jumped out to a lead in
the first run — but hooked a gate at the top of the second run.

“I’d like to do that one again but that’s ski racing,” said Cochran, a four-time national title winner. “As for my career, I had a great time, really fortunate. I feel like I have been living a charmed life the past eight years I’ve been doing this. I met a lot of great people, traveled to a lot of great places. This isn’t a bad place to end it here: nice day, nice people, nice hill. I think I did my first race as a Ski Team member on that hill right over there, so it’s a good place to do the last one, too, full circle.” Cochran-Siegle and Kelley proved to be just on the precipice of their promising careers with top results at Nationals.

Kelley, who made the jump to the U.S. Ski Team’s C Team by way of
a tryout last winter after two seasons with the University of Vermont,
looked like the happiest racer in Winter Park. He took the GS win by
0.58 seconds after leading the way in the first run, and then joyously
thrashed around his ski poles and yelled with glee in the finish area.
“Once I saw the ‘1’ I was so excited I couldn’t really control my
emotions,” said Kelley of his first national title. “I started fist-pumping:
just an awesome feeling, something you dream about.”
Cochran-Siegle, fresh from his double gold-medal winning
performance at the 2012 Junior Worlds, led all juniors in the super G,
just missing the overall podium behind a two-way tie at third.

“My season’s been good; I’m very happy,” said Cochran-Siegle. “It’s
a nice way to end it, for sure.”
International Racers Crash U.S. Nationals Party
Though it was the U.S. Alpine Championships, the doors were thrown
open to racers from around the world, who helped themselves to a
good chunk of the medals and prize money.

Canadian Dustin Cook took the super G crown while three Norwegians landed on the podium. Norway’s Leif Haugen took second in the slalom and third in the GS. Espen Lysdahl took the GS silver medal and Kristine Haugen, younger sister of Leif, finished second in the GS.