NorAm Finals at Aspen Mountain this week
Race crews at Aspen Mountain are gearing up for the 2016 FIS NorAm Cup Finals, starting this week.
Course preparation has been underway for several days with multiple closures on the Ruthie’s side of Aspen Mountain, where the races will be staged.
The events include two downhills and a super-G, which will use the traditional course for America’s Downhill starting at the top of Ruthie’s Run.
The downhill course plunges down Aztec onto Spring Pitch for the huge turn onto Summer Road and then Strawpile. The finish is at the base of Lift 1A.
Official training is scheduled for Friday. Another day of training for men and women will be Saturday.
Formal racing begins Sunday with the first of two downhills. On March 14, a second downhill is scheduled. This one will serve as the U.S. National Championship in downhill. Aspen’s Wiley Maple is the defending national downhill champion.
A super-G for men and women is on the schedule for March 15.
A men’s and women’s team event will be staged on March 15.
Two technical races for men will follow on March 17 and 18. The giant slalom on March 17 will be followed by the final race of the NorAm Cup Finals on March 19.
Aspen’s World Cup crew will lead the event. Jimmy Hancock is the chief of race. Pat Callahan is the chief of course.
Aspen’s Gents roll to their third straight Ruggerfest championship, beat Water Dogs in final
After back-to-back finals that required dramatic rallies to win, the Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Club was able to coast to its three-peat title on Sunday in the finale of the 55th annual Ruggerfest tournament.
