Check out the 2009 Huntsman Cup video courtesy of Rich Levi at Seek Productions:
The National Ability Center’s 2009 Huntsman Cup ski races brought together a highly competitive field of racers from Utah and across the country, as well as other countries around the world. Included in this field is a group from the United States Adaptive Ski Team, the strongest adaptive ski team in the world.
Tuesday's Giant Slalom races took place on CB's run after a night of fresh snow fall. Americans took the top spot in four of the five divisions and had nine podium finishes to lead all competing nations at the end of day one.
In the standing skier division, American Brad Washburn had the fastest total time of the day coming in at 2:00.66. Park City's Monte Meier had the fastest single run of the day at 59.28, but his second run was left him less than three seconds away from the top spot on the podium. Washburn and Meier earned 100 and 80 points respectively toward the World Cup. Third place went to Slovakia's Martin Cupka who finished less than two-tenths of a second behind Meier.
The fastest standing woman in the GS was Canada's Melanie Schwartz with a time of 2:25.27. Australian Emily Jansen and American Stephanie Jallen rounded out the podium.
Former Ability Ski Team member Danelle Umstead was victorious in the women's visually impaired category. Her time of 2:25.77 was more than six seconds faster than American countryman Holidae Swan and more than a minute faster than third place finisher, American Caitlin Sarubbi.
The woman sit-ski division division saw another American atop the podium with Alana Nichols finishing at 2:22.69. Canada's Chantal Fowler finished 14 seconds off the pace, and Great Britain's Anna Turney finished in third.
On Wednesday, the American racers swept all the top podium positions. Monte Meier was able to jump Brad Washburn and beat him by more than four seconds to earn first place in the Slalom.
A second round of Slalom racing was held on Thursday. In the men's sit-ski division, American John Knudsen bounced back from Wednesday's DNF to finish in first place. In the men's standing division, Monte Meier and Brad Washburn continued to fight for the top position with Washburn coming out two seconds ahead of Meier for his second first-place finish in three days.
These racers, along with the rest of the field, gave spectators a week of intense and exciting ski racing. This is a FIS-NORAM race and a point qualifier for the Disabled World Cup and U.S. National Disabled Championships. All races were held at Park City Mountain Resort.
Thanks for another great week of racing to all the fabulous volunteers, racers, staff and sponsors! We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
For more information, contact Ellen Adams at 435.649.3991 ext. 622.
