Top skiers back for Alyeska race series

Anchorage skier Kieffer Christianson, fresh from competing in NorAms for the U.S. Ski Team, will join other speedy home-for-the-holidays skiers Juliette Parke and Aspen Sulte in two slalom races Saturday in the Coca-Cola Holiday Classic at Alyeska.

Parke, an Under-16 racer, and Sulte, a U-18, are teammates at Rowmark Academy in Salt Lake City -- the same school Olympic medalist and world champion Hilary Lindh of Juneau attended. Alyeska Ski Club director Aaron Stiassny also expects fast showings from U-18 skiers Nick Crews, Tim Thornley, and Sarah Lundgren.

The first run of the first slalom starts at 10:30 a.m., with the second run at 11:30. The first run of the second slalom begins at 1:30 p.m., with the second run at 2:30. The races are scheduled to take place on the Tanaka Hill.

A giant slalom Sunday completes the series.