The distance between Breckenridge and Vail is just more than 35 miles. Normally too long for a parade, but anything is possible in the snow.
Two 23-year-old winter sports athletes from the Colorado mountains are inching nearer to capturing international glory. While it’s too early for celebration plans, this weekend could prove the tipping point.
Turn first to Vail’s Lindsey Vonn, the top women’s downhill skier in the world and a four-event threat. She is tied with Austria’s Nicole Hosp, the defending champ, in the World Cup alpine standings with a month left in the season.
But Vonn has an edge. Her best event, the downhill, will be run today in Whistler, British Columbia. If Vonn finishes fourth or better, she will clinch the downhill title and become the first American to do so since Picabo Street won back-to-back titles in 1995-96. No other U.S. skier, man or woman, has won a downhill title. Vonn has won four of seven downhills this season and hasn’t finished lower than fifth.
A downhill title could go a long way toward distancing Vonn from Hosp in the overall standings. The season ends in Bormio, Italy, on March 16. If Vonn can get ahead and hold on, she would become just the second American woman to win an alpine championship. Tamara McKinney won the title in 1983.
But that’s not all. Breckenridge’s Katie Uhlaender, a graduate of Summit High School, today will have all eyes on her at the world championship skeleton race in Altenberg, Germany.
Uhlaender has wrapped up this season’s World Cup title after winning four races and six medals in eight races. So she enters the world championships a clear favorite after taking bronze last year.
It’s possible two World Cup titles and a world championship could find homes in Summit and Eagle counties by the time the leaves turn green. There would be plenty of spotlight to share.
AROUND TOWN
Pioneers to host Tar Heels.
Fresh off a season-opening victory over then-No. 16 Colgate last weekend, the University of Denver men’s lacrosse team won’t find things any easier this week. The Pioneers, now ranked 16th in the latest Inside Lacrosse poll, hosts No. 9 North Carolina on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) at Peter Barton Stadium. The game is the third in a three-game series with the Tar Heels since 2006. The Pioneers topped UNC 11-8 in 2006, but UNC reversed the score in Chapel Hill last season. Both teams start their 2008 seasons after average finishes last year. But UNC returns 40 letterman, to DU’s 16. Fortunately for the Pioneers, they got impressive production in the season opener from junior Cliff Smith (five goals) and junior goaltender Austin Konkel (eight saves).
MEN’S LACROSSE
Saturday: North Carolina vs. Denver, at Peter Barton Stadium, 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Providence vs. Air Force, at Cadet Lacrosse Stadium, 3 p.m.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Today: Stony Brook vs. Denver, at Peter Barton Stadium, 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Duquesne vs. Denver, at Peter Barton Stadium, 4 p.m.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Memphis had better beware.
No. 1 Memphis’ matchup with No. 2 Tennessee on Saturday — ESPN’s GameDay presentation starts at 7 p.m. — will be the 38th time the top two ranked teams have met. But, oddly, it’s No. 2 with a decided advantage lately. The second-ranked team has won five of the past six games against No. 1, including No. 2 Ohio State’s one-point win over No. 1 Wisconsin last season. Top-ranked Duke beat No. 2 Texas in 2005. At this point in the season, Memphis is a clear-cut No. 1, holding the top spot five weeks running, three weeks unanimously. The Tigers are the only Division I team without a loss. The Volunteers, at No. 2, hold their highest ranking in school history.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Going to great heights.
Running the stairs to the top of Denver’s most recognizable skyscraper (the “cash register” building, last year) is nice and all. But going step-by-step to the top of the tallest building in town is more impressive. You’ll have that opportunity this weekend when the American Lung Association hosts the Run the Republic stair climb, a 53-floor hike to the top of the Republic Plaza Building at 370 17th St. The stairs, normally closed to the public, will open for solo runners and teams, and elevators will take competitors back to the lobby. The race starts at 8 a.m. Get more information at .
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Play ball!!!
If the college baseball season — which opens this weekend — seemed a long time coming, it was for a reason. The NCAA changed its rules to force sunny southern schools to start their schedules on the same date as their chilly northern counterparts. It’s a good decision that should even the playing field. But don’t tell that to Northern Colorado, which opens today in a three-game series against defending Big 12 champion Texas A&M.
WEAK IN REVIEW
What’s left for Olympians?
First, American Olympians worried about the quality of air in Beijing for the Summer Olympics. Then this week, PETA, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, sent an open letter to U.S. Olympic Committee president Peter Ueberroth urging him to restrict American athletes in China to a vegan diet. The meat and dairy in China and the U.S. isn’t safe, the group says. If food, air and cold medicine (part of the banned list of performance-enhancing drugs) are out, not much remains for the U.S. team.
