Abby Ghent, foreground, and Lindsey Vonn using the "high speed" lift for training (a.k.a asnowmobile) at Ski Portillo in Chile while wearing new Vail Beaver Creek 2015 race bibs. (photo: Kristian Saile)

U.S. Alpine Women Up to Speed in Portillo

Portillo, Chile – The speed training season is officially underway in South America as the women’s U.S. Ski Team, including Olympic gold medalists Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso, begin their second week in Portillo.

“I’ve had more time on snow at this point in the year than I think I’ve ever had. But even more important, I think, is that my days on snow have been really concentrated on what I’ve needed to accomplish,” said Mancuso, of Olympic Valley, Calif. “My Head ski setup is working really well and I’m fired up to start the season.”

Portillo, Chile has been a long-time host of the U.S. Ski Team and provides some of the best early-season downhill training in the world. Warm weather, which earlier produced a minor avalanche at the top of the training slope, has hampered training, but Speed Head Coach Chip White reported excellent progress from all athletes as they transitioned from super G to downhill over the weekend.

Abby Ghent, foreground, and Lindsey Vonn using the "high speed" lift for training (a.k.a. a snowmobile) at Ski Portillo in Chile while wearing new Vail Beaver Creek 2015 race bibs. (photo: Kristian Saile)
Abby Ghent, foreground, and Lindsey Vonn using the “high speed” lift for training (a.k.a. a snowmobile) at Ski Portillo in Chile while wearing new Vail Beaver Creek 2015 race bibs. (photo: Kristian Saile)

“We’ve had incredible cooperation with Portillo, the Canadian team and the Norwegians, who are also training here. There’s been a lot of snow cat work, a lot of shoveling by the coaches and a lot of long days, but it’s equated to really productive training for our athletes,” White said. “I’m impressed with were our team is technically, physically and mentally during this camp. We’ve had some challenging training conditions, but everyone has had such a ‘let’s get this done’ attitude. We’re on track to start the season strong.”

In addition to Vonn and Mancuso, other athletes in attendance at the training camp include Stacy Cook, Leanne Smith, Laurenne Ross, Alice McKennis, Julia Ford, Abby Ghent and Chelsea Marshall. The athletes have used the conditions to test numerous ski, binding and boot setups for the upcoming Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season.

“Ski testing has been a really important part of this camp and it’s been super productive,” explained Cook, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. “Normally we don’t have so many options, but this year everything is new. In the past, we’ve been completely focused on what setup is fast, but now it’s about focusing on exactly what you’re feeling with the new equipment.”

The World Cup season opens Oct. 27 in Soelden, Austria – the U.S. Ski Team’s European Training Base. The tour swings to North America Nov. 24-25 with a giant slalom and slalom at the USANA Aspen Winternational in Aspen, CO followed by the start of the speed season in Lake Louise, Canada.

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