Two years ago – the last time the U.S. Alpine Championships were staged at Sugarloaf/USA – fans were treated to great weather, inspired skiing and an impromptu fashion show … kind of.

U.S. Olympian Julia Mancuso stole the show during those championships, not only because of how she skied, but because of the statement she made during her second Monday slalom race.

She wore striped shorts and a matching tank top over her racing suit, tossed her helmet aside, and tied her long hair up over the top of a water-bottle.

The result: Mancuso looked a bit like a conehead, finished third, and left a smiling and chuckling crowd in her wake.

On Saturday, after a long World Cup season that ended in historic fashion for the U.S. skiers, the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships return to Sugarloaf for a five-day run. Training runs for the downhill were scheduled to be held Wednesday and today, and racers will hit the slopes Friday for a non-championship FIS downhill.

Though he wasn’t there for the races in 2006, Mancuso’s entertaining performance wasn’t surprising, according to Doug Haney, the U.S. Ski Team’s press officer.

“That really goes to show you the spirit of the U.S. Championships,” Haney said. “It’s a lighthearted event and it allows the veterans to have fun and race against the younger skiers.”

For different skiers, the national championships mean different things. For up-and-coming competitors, the races provide a chance to prove oneself against some of the best in the world, and to pave the way toward future success. For veterans, it’s the season-capping event after a grueling World Cup schedule. And for some (like Mancuso) it’s the chance to let your hair down … or up.

Fans never know exactly what they’ll see.

One thing is certain, however: They will get to watch many of the nation’s present and future stars as they rip down the Narrow Gauge trail during the competition.

Haney said even after the long ski season, athletes are eager to compete when they head back to the states. Yes, there may be less pressure than there is on the World Cup circuit. But the skiers are still competitors at heart.

“At the U.S. Championships, U.S. titles are on the line, and athletes are always gunning for titles,” Haney said.

And when they head to Sugarloaf, as they have for U.S. Alpine Championships in 1996, 1997 and 2006, the skiers are treated like royalty.

“[The athletes] love it up there,” Haney said. “The biggest part of it is that Sugarloaf puts on such an excellent show. They really take care of the athletes … the fans there who are just crazy about ski racing.”

Last week, U.S. skiers completed the World Cup season, with Lindsey Vonn (formerly Lindsey Kildow) of Vail, Colo., joining Carrabassett Valley Academy grad Bode Miller as the overall series champion.

That marked the first time in 25 years U.S. skiers had combined to win both the men’s and women’s overall titles in the same season.

Miller broke away from the U.S. Ski Team and competed as an individual this season. His status at the U.S. Alpine Championships is unknown.

“I wish I could tell you a little bit more about that,” Haney said. “I’ve heard from his agent that he’s planning on being there, and I’ve heard that he’s not.”

Haney, who was en route to Sugarloaf on Thursday from the Adirondacks, had yet to check in at the venue, but said Miller would be a welcome addition to the races if he chose to compete. As of late Thursday afternoon, Miller had not arrived at Sugarloaf, a resort representative said.

Vonn will compete in the weekend events – the downhill and super G – while Mancuso will arrive in Maine on Saturday and compete in Sunday’s super G, along with Monday’s slalom and Wednesday’s giant slalom.

Ted Ligety, who won the World Cup giant slalom title, is not expected to compete at Sugarloaf.

“Ted injured his thumb in the super G in the World Cup finals,” Haney said, and will return to Utah for a thorough medical examination.

The tentative schedule of the U.S. Alpine Championships, subject to change:

Thursday: Downhill training.

Friday: Men’s FIS downhill, 9:30 a.m. (not a title race), women’s FIS downhill (not a title race), 11 a.m.

Saturday: Men’s downhill, 9:30 a.m., women’s downhill, 11 a.m., parade of athletes, 6:30 p.m., opening ceremonies, 7 p.m., autograph session, 8 p.m.

Sunday: Men’s super G, 9:30 a.m., women’s super G, 12:30 p.m.

Monday: Men’s slalom first run, 9 a.m., women’s slalom first run, 11 a.m., men’s slalom second run, 12:30 p.m., women’s slalom second run, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Men’s giant slalom first run, 9 a.m., men’s giant slalom second run, noon.

Wednesday: Women’s giant slalom first run, 9 a.m., women’s giant slalom second run, noon.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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