Altenmarkt, Austria (Friday, January 31, 2003) - While the eyes of the ski world are drawing to the FIS Alpine World Championships in St. Moritz, U.S. Ski Team racers not on the Worlds team have been lighting up the Europa Cup.

Thursday (Jan. 30), Bryon Friedman (Park City, UT) was second in a Europa Cup downhill in Altenmarkt, Austria -- a career best finish at the highest level of competition below the World Cup. The men race again Friday in Altenmarkt.

Wednesday in Megeve, France, Alison Powers (Winter Park, CO) took another huge step in her comeback from an injury two years ago to win a Europa Cup downhill. It was a career best downhill finish for Powers, matching a Europa Cup super G win three years ago.

Powers' win came a day after three U.S. Ski Team racers took third, fourth and fifth with Lindsey C. Kildow (Vail, CO) leading the way in third, Bryna McCarty (Starksboro, VT) fourth and Powers fifth.

"These were great performances for Powers and Kildow," said U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Marjan Cernigoj. Powers cameback this fall from an injury suffered in a World Cup in January, 2001. Kildow was injured earlier in the season but has been coming back strong in races this month and is expected to rejoin the World Cup sometime after World Championships.