Promising young athletes rise to win titles.

After three days of thrilling ski racing at Park City Mountain Resort, the Huntsman Cup finished with two brand new title winners. January 2-4, 2005, marked three days I of world-class racing for athletes with physical disabilities, in Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G events, hosted by the National Ability Center. The U.S. Ski Team finished with a fantastic week, with Team Members Tyler Walker (mono) and Laurie Stephens (mono) claiming the best overall male and female awards.

This is only Tyler Walker's second year with the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, and I already he is besting the long time veterans. Tyler won best overall male and claimed the Huntsman Cup title by being consistent in all three events, with second place overall finishes across the board.

Laurie Stephens, who is also only a second year team member, claimed her first Huntsman Cup title of best overall female. Laurie had first place overall finishes in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom, and sealed her title with a second place overall finish in the Super G.

"We had two brand new Huntsman Cup winners this year that I have watched at Huntsman since they were youths," says Meeche White, Executive Director at the National Ability Center. "It is very exciting to see them improve to become Huntsman Cup winners."

Other winning performances included Monte Meier (standing), with a dominating combined time of 1:40.92 in the Slalom and Timothy Clay Fox (standing) with an impressive win in his division for the Giant Slalom. Thirteen-year U.S. Ski Team veteran, Chris Devlin-Young (mono) also put in a great time in the Giant Slalom, winning overall with a combined time of 1:59.27, and an overall win in the Super G with a roach 1:02.54. And, from the U.S. Disabled Women's Ski Team, Lacey Heward (mono) won the Super G overall with a time of 1:08.19.

The National Ability Center has hosted the Huntsman Cup for 18 years at Park City Mountain Resort. The Huntsman Cup is one of the premier ski races for people with physical disabilities in the country. It is sanctioned by United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSSA), Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA), and the Federation of International Skiing (FIS).