U.S. National Alpine Ski Championships : Pelletier Wins, McKinney Is Third in Giant Slalom

Monique Pelletier, a member of the U.S. Ski Team’s National Training Group, beat out Tamara McKinney and other more experienced skiers Saturday to win the women’s giant slalom at the U.S. National Alpine Ski Championships.

McKinney, in her first competition of the season, finished third, behind Pelletier and runner-up Heidi Voelker.

“I’m very surprised, I’m incredibly surprised,” said Pelletier, 18, of Aspen, Colo. “My giant slalom hasn’t been as strong as my other events. I certainly didn’t expect to put two good runs together in GS.

“I really came here hoping to win the combined title. I finished 10th in the downhill and fifth in the super-G, so that puts me in good position for the combined.”

Pelletier paced the first run with a time of 1 minute 13.76 seconds, edging McKinney by 26/100ths of a second. Beth Madsen was third and Voelker fourth.

Her second run was only the fourth fastest, at 1:11.00, but it was enough to hold off Voelker, who posted the best second run of 1:10.67.

Pelletier had a combined time of 2:24.76. Voelker, an 18-year-old from Pittsfield, Mass., finished in 2:24.78, with McKinney at 2:24.98.

Heidi Bowes was fourth, Edith Thys fifth and defending champion Debbie Armstrong sixth. Madsen fell and did not finish.

McKinney, the 1983 World Cup overall champion who was considered the United States’ best hope for an Alpine medal in the Olympics until her injury on Nov. 9, said she was happy with her performance.

“I came here to win, sure, but I haven’t had any competition all year,” said McKinney, from Olympic Valley, Calif. “I still have some timing to catch up on, but my skiing feels good and my body feels strong. There’s a lot of room for improvement, but this is a big step.”

Pam Fletcher, who won the downhill and super-giant slalom at Crested Butte on Thursday and Friday, fell during her first run Saturday.