TED LIGETY SKI RACES WITH THE U.S. SKI AND SNOWBOARD TEAM (USSA) IN THE EUROPA CUP, NORAM AND WORLD CUP ALPINE SKI RACES - SLALOM AND GAINT SLALOM RACES IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA WINNING GOLD AND SILVER METALS

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FIRST TRACKS - FEBRUARY 1, 2005

Weather Slows Downhill Training in Italy

Bormio, Italy (Tuesday, February 1, 2005) - Weather created problems Tuesday at the World Alpine Ski Championships, forcing cancellation of the women's second downhill training run because of snow and winds while the men ran from a start that was lowered because of high winds.

The third run for men, second for women is set for Wednesday, weather permitting. Racing resumes - again, weather permitting - Thursday with the men's combined while women run combined Friday.

"It was definitely tough with the winds. In some places I couldn't see my feet," said Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), who will run the combined to get additional time on the slalom hill before skiing slalom Feb. 12. And how much downhill has he run? "Almost nothing...so it's good experience for me to get time on the long boards."

Ligety will ski combined with Bode Miller (Franconia, NH), who won the super G Saturday to open the World Championships and has led the World Cup points parade since winning the first race of the season, a giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, in late October. Saturday, Miller will run combined with Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) and JJ Johnson (also Park City).

Friday in Santa Caterina, the women's combined will include U.S. racers Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO), Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) - the women's super G bronze medalist Sunday, Caroline Lalive (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY). Sunday, the downhill will include Kildow, Clark, Lalive and either Jonna Mendes (Heavenly, CA) or Bryna McCarty (Concord, VT).

Canada's Emily Brydon, who clocked the fourth fastest time amongst the women yesterday, had been hoping to build on yesterday’s momentum. After coming in 21st place yesterday, fellow Canadian Erik Guay, from Mont-Tremblant, was 12th in the second training run with a time of 1:55.34, 1.21 seconds away from Gruber.

“I’m quite satisfied with my run,” said Guay. “Even though it was quite windy and the visibility was not the optimal, I managed to ski a clean run. It was certainly challenging to start with bib number one because I didn’t get a course report for my run. I just had to stick my game plan and to aim for better skiing than in the super G and than in the first training run. Overall, I’m happy.”

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