Another Marshall lights up World Cup circuit

By Marina Knight

You’ve heard of the Flying Cochrans, but what about the Flying Marshalls?

Vermonter Cody Marshall did it again, scoring for the second time this season in a World Cup slalom. Marshall was 23rd at Zagreb, Croatia, on Sunday, and previously came in 19th at Wengen, one of the most challenging slaloms of the season.

Marshall’s story is an inspiration. He was overlooked by the U.S. Ski Team in the past because he was considered too old for the team. He is 25 now and has proven himself one of America’s best slalom racers. He, Jimmy Cochran and Ted Ligety are the only athletes who have scored World Cup points in slalom this season for the U.S. team.
During nationals following the Olympics in 2006, Marshall tied for third in slalom, which forced U.S. coaches to give him a second look. The following year, he had a few solid finishes on the Europa Cup, and he began this season with an impressive third place at a Nor-Am just before the Beaver Creek World Cups. He also has four top-15s in Europa Cup this season.

Both his siblings, Chelsea (who was eighth in a World Cup downhill two weeks ago) and Jesse, are also World Cup-caliber skiers. His older brother Jesse had to put his ski career on hold because of a chronic back problem, which resulted in spinal fusion surgery nearly two years ago. Before he was sidelined, though, Jesse started nearly 20 World Cups with the U.S. Ski Team, and was on the podium three times at national championships.

Cody shows why age-based criteria do not make sense, and his success proves that athletes can come into their own in their mid-20s.


Vonn remains
tied for lead

Lindsey Vonn remains tied for the overall lead, as Nicole Hosp fell during the slalom last week at Zagreb.
Hosp was poised for a second-place finish or better when she straddled a gate in the beginning of her second run. She missed a key chance to take the lead going into speed races in Vancouver.
Vonn won Tuesday’s downhill training run there, while Hosp was 19th, and Vonn also held a sizable advantage over Hosp on the Canadian course. Hosp is considered more of a technical skier than Vonn, but Vonn has to be careful, since Hosp did come up big during the 2007 World Championships in Are, where she won bronze in the downhill.