Winter Park, CO –Starksboro, Vt.’s Robby Kelley become the latest “Skiing Cochran” to claim a national title as he closed the sun soaked Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships in Winter Park on Sunday with giant slalom gold.

Norwegians Espen Lysdahl and Leif Kristian Haugen, who train regularly at Winter Park with the Denver University ski team, finished 2-3 as temps soared into the mid 60s for a spring break atmosphere in Winter Park. Top junior honors went to fellow Vermonter Robert Cone, who also was the top junior in slalom.

“Once I saw number one on the board I was so excited I couldn’t really control my emotions,” said a happy Kelley. “I started fist pumping, it’s just an awesome feeling, something you dream about.”

Kelley is of the famous “Skiing Cochran’s” lineage. His mother Lindy is a 1976 Olympian and older siblings Tim and Jessica have also been members of the U.S. Ski Team. His cousin Jimmy Cochran, of Keene, N.H., announced his retirement from the U.S. Ski Team on Thursday and other cousin Ryan Cochran-Siegle is the junior world downhill and combined champion.

“No matter where we go, we always have fast people to ski with,” Kelley acknowledged. “My brother Timmy and my sister Jess are really fast, Ryan [Cochran-Siegle] and Jimmy [Cochran] are really fast and my other cousin Roger Brown was on the U.S. Ski Team so no matter where we go, we’re always pushing each other. It’s an incredible family support system and a lot of fun.”

The Western Region claimed the Tom Garner Trophy with a 2,738 point total over the five day championships. Second place went to the East with 1,429 and Rocky Central with 1,225.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships
Winter Park, CO – Apr. 1, 2012
Men’s Giant Slalom