WHISTLER, BC - The world's finest alpine racers will come together Thursday for the 18th annual Whistler Cup - the largest and most important ski race in North America for athletes ages 11 – 14. This week the U.S. is sending a team of 24 top junior athletes from U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association clubs across the U.S. to Whistler.
The women's racers are led by Trofeo Topolino double gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin (Vail, CO; Burke Mountain Academy). Shiffrin became the first American since 2007 to win at Topolino, taking gold medals in both GS and slalom.
In the men's races J3 Junior Olympic gold medalists Max Hall (Olympic Valley, CA; Squaw Valley) Hughston Norton (Stateline, NV; Heavenly Valley) and Jack Auty (Durham, NH; Burke Mountain Academy) will each be in the hunt for the podium.
An estimated 400 athletes from 20 countries will converge on the 2010 Olympic venue at Whistler to race in super G, slalom, giant slalom and combined races.
The Whistler Cup is one of only eight international events for youth racers, and the only one to be held on North American soil.
2010 USA Whistler Cup Team (Name, Hometown, Club)
Men
- Jack Auty, Durham, NH (Burke Mountain Academy)
- Ryan Berkshire Mooney, Charlemont, MA (East/Eaglebrook School)
- Kyle Burcin, Basking Ridge, NJ (Killington Mountain School)
- Max Hall, Olympic Valley, CA (Squaw Valley)
- Zac Kjos, La Crosse, WI (Apex Racing)
- Hunter Lord, Kittery Point, ME (Burke Mountain Academy)
- Nicholas Mitchell, Edina, MN (Welch Village)
- Hughston Norton, Stateline, NV (Heavenly Valley Sle Educ Found)
- Peter Papineau, Park City, UT (Park City Ski Team)
- KJ Savaria, Hailey, ID (Sun Valley)
- Mitchell Underhill, Plymouth, MN (Buck Hill)
- Nicholas Veth, Arroyo Seco, NM (Taos Ski Academy)
Women
- Diana Abbott, Middletown, CA (Squaw Valley)
- Julia Bjorkman, Incline Village, NV (Diamond Peak)
- Danielle Brownell-Patty, Carbondale, CO (Aspen)
- Kelly DiNapoli, Ludlow, VT (Holderness School)
- Hannah Johnson, Incline Village, NV (Diamond Peak)
- Madeline Johnson, Truckee, CA (Squaw Valley)
- Brittany Lathrop, S. Londonderry, VT (Stratton Mountain School)
- Montana Marzario, Prior Lake , MN (Buck Hill)
- Julia Mueller-Ristine, Aspen, CO (Aspen)
- Alita Rogers, Huntington, VT (Mt. Mansfield Ski Club)
- Mikaela Shiffrin, Vail, CO (Burke Mountain Academy)
- Kendall Vanhee, Edwards, CO (Ski Club Vail)
