U.S. Alpine Speed Championships
Alpine Combined Results
Nina O’Brien earns second title in US Alpine Speed Championships at Sugarloaf
CVA Senior Ella Spear finishes with a career-best 11th place in the Alpine Combined.
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, MAINE- On the heels of a win in yesterday's Super G, Nina O'Brien of Denver CO, claimed her second national title of the 2019 US Alpine Speed Championships in today's alpine combined at Sugarloaf. Following a second place finish in the speed portion of today's event, O'Brien threw down the fastest slalom run in the women's field to earn the win with a two-run combined time of 1:59.18.
Teammates AJ Hurt and Keely Cashman rounded out the women's podium with finish times of 1:59.38 and 2:00.81 respectively.
On the men's side, Luke Winters earned the national alpine combined title with a time of 1:54.32, accompanied by Jeff Read of Canada in second and Kyle Negomire third place with two-run finish times of 1:54.75 and 1:55.01 respectively.
Carrabassett Valley Academy senior Ella Spear held her own against the nation's fastest skiers, narrowly missing the top-ten to finish with a career-best 11th in the Alpine Combined, with a two-run time of 2:07.55.
As the country's most prestigious domestic alpine ski racing event, the US Alpine Championships give up-and-coming athletes looking to advance their position on the U.S. Ski Team a chance to face off against A-Team stars.
This is the seventh time Sugarloaf has played host to the championships, having previously done so in 1996, 1997, 2006, 2008, 2015, and 2017.
This year marks the first time that the U.S. Alpine Championships have split speed and technical disciplines into separate events at different mountains. National championships in technical events will be awarded at the U.S. Alpine Championships at Waterville Valley, NH, March 23-26, 2019.
About Sugarloaf - Located in Carrabassett Valley, ME, Sugarloaf is largest ski area in the East, and is home to the only lift-serviced above treeline skiing and riding in the East, as well as the number one golf course in Maine, according to Golf Digest. Sugarloaf is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions. Follow: www.sugarloaf.com, www.facebook.com/sugarloaf, and http://twitter.com/sugarloafmaine.