2014 U.S. Alpine Championships To Be Held At Tahoe Resort
LAKE TAHOE (CBS/AP) — The U.S. Alpine Championships are returning to Lake Tahoe next year.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has announced that the event will be held for the second year in a row at Squaw Valley ski resort, home of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.
Sponsors say the five days of competition March 19-23 will be a celebration of the closing of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games season.
Squaw Valley CEO and President Andy Wirth said the resort in Olympic Valley, about five miles west of Lake Tahoe, is thrilled with the news.
''We had a hugely successful event this year but will be offering even more programming in 2014 as we welcome our American Olympians home from Sochi with a community-wide celebration honoring athletes across the winter disciplines,'' Wirth said.
Those expected to compete include Squaw Valley native Julia Mancuso, who won the Olympic gold medal in the giant slalom at Turin in 2006 and claimed two silver medals at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
''It's great to get to race at my home mountain and it's awesome to have Squaw's support for ski racing,'' Mancuso said. ''They did an exceptional job this season, so I definitely look forward to some more great races on home snow after the Olympics.''
Others expected include Lindsey Vonn, Ted Ligety and Bode Miller.
Bill Marolt, USSA president and CEO, said the success of the event held at Squaw Valley last month combined with the area's skiing tradition helped pave the way for the return visit.
''The Squaw Valley community has produced some of the greatest Olympic skiers in history like Julia Mancuso, Tamara McKinney and Jimmie Heuga,'' Marolt said.
''That legacy helped bring out some of the biggest crowds in the history of the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships,'' he said in a statement Tuesday announcing the decision.
Nature Valley is the event's sponsor.end of story marker
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