Laurie Stephens wins super G in Torino
// U.S. Ski Team // March 14, 2006
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SESTRIERE, Italy (March 14) - Sit-skier Laurie Stephens (LW-12/1; Wenham, MA) won her second gold medal of the Paralymics Tuesday, capturing the women's super G at Borgata by more than three seconds. Nick Catanzarite (LW-10; Winter Park, CO) led U.S. men, finishing fourth, missing a medal by eight-hundredths of a second.
Stephens, the Paralympics downhill champion from Sunday, had an adjusted time of 1:19.16 with Kuniko Obinata of Japan runnerup in 1:22.22. Stephani Victor (LW-12/2; Park City, UT), who was forced out of the DH because of a pre-race mishap, returned for the super G and was fourth (1:23.44), missing the podium by four-tenths of a second.
Stephens has held the Overall title in World Cup standings for three years in a row now and continues to dominate in Sestriere.
"I was just letting it go out there. I always want to ski the best I can," Stephens said, "and just letting it go is part of it."
Victor, who lost both legs in a bizarre traffic accident, said she was inspired by Stephens' performance. "I watched her at the start and she just went for it. It's like she gave me permission to have fun and just let it go," Victor said.
"I've had dreams about this race course. I had a great race from the start to the finish line and I can't complain about four-tenths," she said.
Stephens, who was born with spinal bifida, has been dominant on the women's World Cup since she joined the tour with the 2004 season; she won all six giant slalom that season as well as the overall crown with nine wins and last season she swept every sit-skier title: slalom and GS, speed (super Gs and one DH)
German veteran Martin Braxenthaer (LW-10/2) won the men's sit-ski SG in 1:12.83, finishing 1.6 seconds ahead of Austrian Harald Eder (LW-11). Catanzarite's time was 1:15.12 while Kevin Bramble (LW-12/1; Truckee, CA), the downhill champion, finished 10th in 1:17.69 with Tyler Walker (LW-12/2; Fraconia, NH) in 11th place, another .06 back.
Catanzarite, paralyzed below the waist in a 1995 crash before a race, was understandably pleased with his fourth-place finish after failing to finish the downhill Sunday. "I would've liked to have medaled, but I had a great run. My head was in it. I wanted to go fast and gave it all I had," said Catanzarite. "I needed this. I was losing confidence after the downhill."
In a cross-over, three members of the U.S. disabled cross country squad competed in the short distance biathlon race. Monica Bascio (LW-11; Evergreen, CO) was sixth among the sit-skiers, Kelly Underkoler (LW-6/8; St. Paul, MN) was seventh in the standup class and Dan Perkins (LW-4; North Syracuse, NY) finished 10th in the men's race.
Wednesday's schedule sees a break for alpine but cross country resumes in Pragelato Plan, down the hill from Sestriere - beyond the alpine Kandahar Banchetta course in Borgata, with middle distance races in classic technique.
IX PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Kandahar Banchetta
Sestriere, ITA - March 14, 2006
All times adjusted
Men's Super G - Standups
1. Martin Braxenthaler, LW-10/2, Germany, 1:12.83
2. Harald Eder, LW-11, Austria, 1:12.43
3. Robert Froehle, LW-11, Austria, 1:15.04
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4. Nick Catanzarite, LW-10/1, Winter Park, colo., 1:15.12
10. Kevin Bramble, LW-12/1, Truckee, Calif., 1:17.69
11. Tyler Walker, LW-12/2, Franconia, N.H., 1:17.75
19. Roger Lee, LW-11, Wildomar, Calif., 1:21.05
28. Joe Tompkins, LW-11, Juneau, Alaska, 1:23.27
31. Carl Burnett, LW-11, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 1:24.26
32. Gerald Hayden, LW-12/1, Fresno, Calif., 1:24.49
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DNF:
Chris Devlin-Young, LW-12/1, Campton, N.H.
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Women's Super G - Standups
1. Laurie Stephens, LW-12/1, Wenham, Mass., 1:19.16
2. Kuniko Obinata, LW-12/2, Japan, 1:22.22
3. Kimberley Joines, LW-12/1, Canada, 1:23.04
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4. Stephani Victor, LW-12/2, Park City, Utah, 1:23.44
8. Lacey Heward, LW-11, Boise, Idaho, 1:27.60
