Skicross racers seek redemption at US Grand Prix

PARK CITY, Utah — A year ago, Langely McNeal was in the midst of a switch to the corporate world, working 80 hours a week for a Groupon-like startup company in Seattle.

As recently as December, John Teller had traded in the skis for a wrench, working at his uncle's California auto-repair shop, changing oil, fixing transmissions and replacing timing belts.

This week, both Americans are back on the snow and in the spotlight when skicross makes another splash in the U.S.

They'll be competing this weekend in the FIS-sanctioned Grand Prix at Park City's Canyons Resort, with the accompanying snowboardcross event doubling as the U.S. Championship for top competitors such as Nate Holland, Nick Baumgartner and Jonathan Cheever.

For Teller and McNeal, the goal is both redemption and awareness for a sport they are trying to grow in popularity and in funding.

Teller, who in January 2011 became the first American to win a World Cup skicross event, wiped out in his semifinal heat at last month's Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., and failed in his bid to repeat as champion.

McNeal hit an even bigger dip. After seemingly advancing to the X Games women's skicross finals, she was disqualified because of a clothing violation.

"It was my first X Games finals and I was so excited to cross the finish line ... I was jumping on the back of a snowmobile to go back to the top when I got tapped on the shoulder," she said.

Told that another skier was protesting her outfit, McNeal started laughing.

"I'm like, 'My mom's (bell-bottom) ski pants?' What?"

It wasn't the bell bottoms. Nor was it the band she wore on her thigh as a tribute to freestyle pioneer Sarah Burke, who died Jan. 19 of injuries suffered in a fall in Park City Mountain Resort's superpipe.

Tiny hair bands strapped around each pant cuff were deemed an aerodynamic advantage.

News of McNeal's disqualification lit up the Internet like Shaun White's perfect 100 in the halfpipe.

Now, with Olympians Lindsey Jacobellis and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof both unable to compete in snowboardcross this week because of injury, more attention will be on McNeal and skicross.

"There's also more pressure just because of what happened at the X Games," said McNeal, who is using the disqualification as a lesson. "There are a lot of eyes on you after things like that, and you want to put on a good race for family and friends."