Inside Edge: Sign up for the Junior Race Series

Big week of World Cup action — The ladies moved to Lake Louise last week for their speed series.

Lindsey Vonn sat this one out due to a knee injury, but tech specialist Mikaela Shiffrin carried the water for the United States, finishing ninth and fourth in the two downhills events and winning the Super G by 0.75 seconds.

The Super G win made her the only World Cup athlete in history to post wins in all six events. Two other U.S. women were in the downhill points.

Meanwhile, the men moved to Beaver Creek to race on the amazing Birds of Prey venue. Steve Nyman and Bryce Bennett tied for ninth in downhill. The U.S. put five men in the points in the Super G, led by Travis Ganong in 15th and Ryan Cochran-Siegle in 17th.

The series wrapped up with giant slalom where we put another four men in the points, led by Ted Ligety in 8th, with Tommy Ford 15th, Brian McLaughlin 18th and Cochran-Siegle placed 22nd.

The circuit moves back to Europe this week.

Junior Race Series sign-up — Fliers for the January Independence Junior Race Series are at the local ski shops.

This popular series features free coaching, lots of prizes, lots of kids and lots of fun! Racers meet four Friday evenings in January from 5:30 until 7 p.m. No excuses — come join the fun!

Historically we get an 80 percent participant return rate, so you better register now.

Forms are at the Alpine Shop and Sandpoint Sports, or can be downloaded at www,independenceracing.com.

Potpourri — Need more snow, but what’s open at Schweitzer is skiing well!

Any comments, recommendations or contributions to this column may be sent to Shep Snow by e-mail at shep@thesnowschool.com. Negative feedback should be sent to someone else.