The Corn Snow Classic at Elk Mountain Ski Resort

Elk hosting Olympians and U.S. Ski Team

By Jeff Lewis - Special to The Sunday Times, 03/12/2006

Elk Mountain has struck gold. Olympic gold, that is.

Olympic gold medal winner Ted Ligety heads a star-studded cast of Olympic and U.S. ski team athletes scheduled to participate in the "Corn Snow Classic" on April 1-2 at Elk Mountain Ski Resort.

In addition to Ligety, fellow Olympians Chip Knight, Lindsey Kildow, Jimmy Cochran, Sarah Schlepper as well as U.S. ski team members Lauren Ross, Thomas Vonn, Jessica Kelley, Kara Crow, Jesse Marshall and T.J. Lanning are all expected to appear and donate their time for a weekend of races, clinics, fun and fundraising.

"We are thrilled to have such a prestigious group of world class athletes visit our facility" said Gregg Confer, Elk Mountain general manager. "We appreciate their willingness to take time from their busy schedules to participate in this exciting weekend."

The athletes will be available for autograph and photo sessions with the public. Races and clinics will be held Saturday and Sunday. However, the list of athletes attending is subject to change and the "on-hill" events are dependent on weather and snow conditions.

"Corn snow" is an annual phenomenon at ski resorts and is the product of a convergence of sun, snow and exposure. Corn snow appears each spring when the weather warms. It is very forgiving and affords average skiers the opportunity to shift their weight while traversing like Olympic skiers. Known as hero snow, it enables skiers to tip their skis to a greater edge angle without fear of losing grip. Skiers can fly through it like butter.

Fresh off the first World Cup victory of his young career, a 48-gate Giant Slalom event held recently in South Korea, the 20-year-old Ligety will be joined at Elk by hometown favorite Lauren Ross, niece of Elliot Ross, a former Elk director of racing. Lauren is currently a member of the U.S. ski team.

Tom Karam of Waverly sponsored Ligety during the past year, having met the talented ski racer as Karam traveled to various regional junior racing events with his daughter Liz, an accomplished skier and a former state racing champion in 2004. Prior to that, Karam had sponsored other U.S. Ski Team members through corporate and personal commitments.

"I believe that it's very important to give something back to a sport that has provided our family with so much enjoyment over the years," said Karam. "Besides, these U.S. ski team members can't focus on their skiing as much if they're always worried about meeting various expenses. A sponsorship allows them to focus 100 percent on their skiing."

The U.S. ski team members will ski in a postseason-sanctioned J1, J2 and second year J3 race. It is anticipated that more than 200 racing families from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region will attend this special event.

Also, Elk will be sponsoring a number of instructional clinics for J3, J4 and J5 skiers. This event will provide youngsters the experience of racing and learning from the greatest skiers in the country, an opportunity they will never forget.

U.S. ski team members kick off the competition each day with women's and men's races, providing fans with a golden opportunity to watch some of the world's best ski racers.

Volunteers from the Elk Mountain Foundation for the Advancement of Race Education (Elk FARE) and parents of local racers are organizing the event. Proceeds will benefit the U.S. Ski Team Foundation and Elk's FARE. Sponsorships are now being sought. Visit www.cornsnowclassic.com for additional information. All competitors must be USSA licensed.

Events schedule

On April 1-2, there will be the men's and women's Slalom with the first run at 9:30 a.m. and the second run at 1:30 p.m. Races are open to SR, J1, J2 and second-year J3 racers, and the field is limited to the first paid 125 men and 100 women. The race entry fee is $20 per day.

There will also be two U.S. ski team clinics for youngsters. A party with the U.S. ski team will be held for adults on April 1 at 4 p.m. in Elk's Winter Garden Restaurant. Clinics with a U.S. ski team member will be available for J5, J4, and first-year J3 skiers.

Participants will receive a bib and marker for autographs.

Contact the writer: sports@timesshamrock.com