CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Downhill competition at the U.S. Alpine Championships is so fast and intense that it typically follows two full days of training runs.

This year, thanks to last week’s non-stop nasty weather at Sugarloaf, training was like sound check at a concert or a few minutes on the putting green before a golf tournament.

The men and women each got one trial run Monday morning, before a lunch break and some quick course maintenance and two rapid races.

“I like that. They should do it every time,” said men’s winner T.J. Lanning, who was quick to add, “although some of the World Cup courses would be hell to run twice.”

Lanning’s break in between testing and competition was 30 minutes longer than the women, who hit the hill at 9:30 a.m. and returned for their race at 12:30 p.m.

“It was a little different, because we didn’t an inspection in between, but I thought it helped,” said Chelsea Marshall, who finished third behind Stacey Cook and Lindsey Vonn in the women’s event. “I’m comfortable on this hill because I’m from the East.”

Stacey Cook said she spent the time getting a pep talk from teammate Libby Ludlow, who was not entered in the downhill.

Chris Beckmann, third on the men’s side, noted that he didn’t need encouragement as much as he required an energy drink.

“Can’t say that I didn’t like (the format), but I’m not sure if I completely like it yet. Midday came, and after lunch I started getting a little tired,” Beckmann said. “I had to wake myself back up and get ready to run it.”

Wednesday and Thursday’s scheduled training runs were scratched due to snow, rain and fog. Friday was to have been a training and competition doubleheader, but high winds derailed those plans.

The course didn’t buckle under the weight of the double whammy.

“The track was a little bit bumpier and a little bit faster than the training run, but after four runs on the thing it held up pretty well,” Beckmann said.

Right at home

Three seniors from Carrabassett Valley Academy made their U.S. Alpine Championship debut Monday in the women’s downhill.

Kristin Waddle of Harpswell was the fastest of the trio, finishing 22nd with a time of 1:15.46. Katie Houser was 34th in 1:16.90, and Emma Coffin crossed the wire 42nd at 1:18.59.

Not for long

For the second consecutive day, Leanne Smith didn’t have much time to enjoy her spot atop the leaderboard. Twice, the New Hampshire native has found herself leading, only to watch a racer behind her overtake her efforts.

Smith was clocked at more than 60 miles per hour in the super-G, but watched Cook follow directly behind her Sunday and eke out the win. Smith reached nearly 73 miles per hour in Monday’s downhill to temporarily claim first place.

The next skier, Chelsea Marshall, beat her. Cook and Lindsey Vonn followed to push Smith farther down the standings.

Smith finished in 1:12.16, but Cook’s winning time was 1:11.69 and Vonn finished in 1:11.78.

“That’s fine, I knew they were coming,” Smith said. “My run was OK, but I could have done better on the flats. I’m happy to be close to home, and fourth place is pretty good.”

Smith had the best time in the morning training run.

Another day, another hill

Marco Sullivan had his mind on the downhill Monday, but it wasn’t the U.S. championship race at Sugarloaf.

Sullivan, one of the favorites in the men’s race, left Maine on Sunday night and flew to British Columbia for previously scheduled training sessions on a section of the downhill course that will be used in the 2010 Olympics.

With no scheduled races on that course until the Olympics, the opportunity to train on it was one he couldn’t pass up.

Sullivan had planned to participate in the downhill, which was originally scheduled for Saturday before bad weather forced organizers to adjust the schedule.

He looked into changing his travel plans Monday, but it was too expensive.

One step forward, one step back

Bryon Friedman appeared poised for another potential podium finish after placing second a day earlier in the super-G. The native of Park City, Utah, who has been battling his way back from a devastating 2005 crash in France, recorded the best downhill time in Monday morning’s training run, edging eventual race winner T.J. Lanning, 1:09.86 to 1:09.95.

In the race, however, Friedman hit a slick spot early in his run. He lost control and nearly crashed into the fence, avoiding it at the last second. He did not finish.

Phone home

After back-to-back victories in the super-G and downhill, Stacey Cook had to do her second phone interview in as many days with Boston Globe reporter Tony Chamberlain.

“I talk to you more than I do my parents,” the Mammoth, Calif., native told Chamberlain.