Clark Posts First Victory in World Cup

HUNTSVILLE, Utah —  Bad weather forced the cancellation of Saturday’s World Cup men’s races at Snowbasin, but the U.S. Ski Team did manage to make headline news--half a world away.

Kirsten Clark claimed her first World Cup victory, winning the downhill at Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

Clark, a 23-year-old from Raymond, Maine, won with a time of 1 minute 27.07 seconds, finishing ahead of Regine Cavagnoud of France and Petra Haltmayer of Germany.

“I believe you’re seeing the real me,” Clark said in a teleconference after her win.

Clark said her breakthrough gives her a big confidence boost heading into next year’s Olympic Games at Salt Lake City.

“I think my chances are really good now,” she said.

Picabo Street, trying to make yet another comeback from injury after winning the 1998 Olympic gold in super-giant slalom, finished seventh, and American Jonna Mendes finished 22nd.