Clark not in national races

GIRDWOOD, Alaska – Three-time Olympian Kirsten Clark of Raymond said Monday that she won’t be skiing in the U.S. Alpine Championships later this week.

Clark, who announced her retirement last week, had hoped to finish out her 13-year career at the competition at the Alyeska Resort.

But she said she’s still suffering from back pain from a spill she took in the last World Cup race of the season. She said she went skiing on Saturday and that it’s clear that “racing at full force is not an option.”

Clark, who lives in Squaw, Calif., started skiing at age 3 at Sugarloaf/USA, began competing at age 7, and joined the U.S. Ski Team at 17.

Her career included a silver medal in the Super G in the 2003 World Championships and numerous trips to the World Cup podium.