Ganong headed to Junior Worlds

PARK CITY, Utah — North Tahoe local Travis Ganong was one of 14 athletes named Friday to compete Feb. 23-March 1 in the 2008 FIS Alpine Junior World Championships in Spain, the U.S. Ski Team announced.

Junior Worlds gives developing skiers a chance to measure themselves against their age group internationally and is a vital tool in gauging how they compare.

U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt said the group includes seven young men and seven young women, including defending NorAm slalom champion Kiley Staples (Park City, UT).

“We’re sending a strong team to Junior Worlds and we have expectations of medals,” Hunt said. “Travis Ganong has shown his capabilities, as has Kiley Staples, who won the NorAm slalom title last season. We know they can perform.”

Ganong’s best result of the season was a seventh-place finish in an FIS giant slalom in Austria on Dec. 12. He also placed ninth in an FIS GS race on Dec. 20 and followed with another ninth in a Nor-Am Cup GS on Jan. 3.

Men

Travis Ganong, 7/14/88; Olympic Valley, Calif. (U.S. C Team/Squaw Valley Ski Team)

Tommy Ford, 3/20/89; Bend, Ore. (U.S. Development Team/Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation)

Max Hammer, 1/29/88; Jackson Hole, Wyo. (U.S. Development Team/Jackson Hole Ski Team)

Bump Heldman, 10/25/88; Auburn, Maine (U.S. Development Team/Gould Academy Snow Sports Club)

Nolan Kasper, 3/27/89; Warren, Vt. (U.S. Development Team/Burke Mountain Academy)

Wiley Maple, 5/25/90; Aspen, Colo. (Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club)

Andrew Phillips, 5/18/89; Sandy, Utah (U.S. Development Team/Rowmark Ski Academy)

Women

Lindsay Cone, 7/1/88; Killington, Vt. (U.S. Development Team/Burke Mountain Academy)

Kirsten Cooper, 11/12/88; Eagle, Colo. (U.S. Development Team/Team Summit/Santa Fe Ski Team)

Julia Ford, 3/30/90; Plymouth, N.H. (U.S. Development Team/Holderness Ski Team)

Katie Hartman, 9/2/88; Breckenridge, Colo. (Team Summit)

Alice McKennis, 8/19/89; Glenwood Springs, Colo. (Rowmark Ski Academy)

Laurenne Ross, 8/17/88; Klamath Falls, Ore. (U.S. Development Team/Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation)

Kiley Staples, 2/2/89; Park City, Utah (U.S. C Team/Rowmark Ski Academy)