NICK GREENER CROWNED 2006 SUBARU U.S. NATIONALS CHAMPION

Snowbird, UT—The Ninth Annual Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals  concluded today, with 49 top competitors from around the world  gunning for a $12,500 prize purse. The clouds that had settled in all  week lifted for today’s finals, leaving 35 men and 14 women to  compete under clear skies and howling winds.

Champions were crowned on Snowbird’s Tram Plaza deck, amid over 1,000  roaring fans and a live set by DJ Knuckles. Libby Bittner of Snowbird  came from seventh place in the semi-finals to take third, behind Lynn  Kennen of Alpine Meadows, CA, in second. A fired-up Laura Ogden of  Whistler, B.C., was named 2006 Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Nationals  Champion.

“It’s so amazing,” said Ogden. “I just picked a line that fit my  style and tried to ski it as fast as possible. That’s what the judges  want to see, and fast is much more fun.”

In men’s competition, consistency was key, with final results being a  cumulative score of one run in yesterday’s semis and two runs in the  finals. Christian Boucher of Whistler, B.C., who had skied the most  aggressive lines of the day, was in the lead coming into the final  run. However, Boucher went too hard and blew up on landing, leaving  the door wide open. With clean, technical runs all weekend and a big,  fast final line, local favorite Nick Greener claimed the 2006  championship.

“I’m really bummed that Christian [Boucher] fell,” said Greener in a  display of sportsmanship. “I wanted him to win. But of course,  victory at my home mountain is incredible. I just skied how I always  do here. Snowbird is an amazing training ground.”

Although Boucher couldn’t hold on to victory, his hard-charging  approach earned him the coveted “Sickbird” award, which goes to the  athletes who are pushing limits harder than anyone. Organizers also  gave an unprecedented second Sickbird award to Stacy Cash of  Snowbird, whose aggressive skiing left judges in awe.

“She skied so much faster than any other woman all weekend,” said  event organizer John “Dak” Williams. “We had to reward her.”  Unfortunately, Cash couldn’t hold on to her speed, and lost a ski on  her huge first jump in the finals.

Frenchmen Adrien Coirier of Les Arcs took second place, followed by countryman Guerlain Chicherit of Tignes in third. Chicherit, who hadn’t competed  for two years, came out of nineteenth place in the semi-finals with a  huge final run on an untouched part of the course.

“I chose a different line where no one had been,” said Chicherit.  “The landings were so soft, the snow was so good.”

RESULTS

Women:

1 Laura Ogden Whistler
2 Lynn Kennen Alpine Meadows
3 Libby Biittner Snowbird
4 Marie Pieronne Val Thorens
5 Andria Huskinson Alta
6 Alaina Huestis Snowbird
7 Anik Demers Sugarbowl
8 Sarah Hornes Whistler
9 Marte Lise Karlsen Oppdal
10 Suzanne Graham Snowbird

Men:

1 Nick Greener Snowbird
2 Adrien Coirier Les Arcs
3 Guerlain Chicherit Tignes
4 Drew Stoecklein Alta
5 Mathieu Richard Whistler
6 Olivier Meynet Bellevaux
7 Rick Greener Snowbird/Alta
8 Drew Tabke Big Island, Hawaii
9 Christian Boucher Whistler
10 Jack Nelson Snowbird/Park City