CARRABASSETT VALLEY – People have often confused Vermont’s Lauren Ross with Oregon’s Laurenne Ross at ski events.

“We sort of gravitate toward each other,” Lauren Ross, 26, said. “We start near each other. She’s a lot younger. When they get me confused and call me a junior (skier), it’s pretty funny.”

It wasn’t easy keeping up with the Rosses on Wednesday or separating the two. Lauren Ross won the giant slalom at Sugarloaf to close out the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships. In second place, you guessed it, Laurenne Ross.

“It’s really funny,” Laurenne Ross said. “It actually tends to happen a lot. I don’t know why. We start next to each other in NorAm’s or finish next to each other. It’s always confusing for announcers and reporters. It’s good for her. So I’m happy for her.”

A skier not named Ross also earned a podium spot. Libby Ludlow of Seattle, a 2006 Olympian, took third.

“It’s nice to end the season on the podium,” said Ludlow, a junior at Dartmouth. “It’s been a rough season. I’ve struggled the last couple months with a back injury. It’s still not great, but to be on the podium at Nationals is satisfying with what I’ve had the last couple of months.”

Weather conditions were rather fickle throughout the day. After a morning snow shower created slick conditions, 16 racers didn’t finish the first run, including World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn, Leanne Smith, Katie Hitchcock and Chelsea Marshall. Two of the first three racers – Vonn and Smith – failed to finish, and five of the first 14 were first-run casualties.

Laurenne Ross, a 19-year old member of the development team, recorded the best time in the first run. But finding consistency to stay among the leaders on her second run has been a struggle.

“It’s really hard to put your nose in it and get in the top when you start so far back,” Laurenne Ross said. “Slowly, I’m working my way.”

Caitlin Ciccone was second after the first run, while Jenny Lathrop, a former Colby College student, was third followed by super-G and downhill champion Stacey Cook, Lauren Ross and Ludlow.

With steady snow flying in the afternoon and visibility getting difficult on the Narrow Gauge trail, Lauren Ross said she had to fire herself up after frustration over her first run.

“I felt a little more (angry) in the start,” Lauren Ross said. “I had a little more fire under my ass.”

Her run of 1:07.71 gave her an overall time of 2:15.22.

“It’s nice to finish off the season strong,” said Lauren Ross, who races on the U.S.B Team. “I got sick last week. I had the flu. I was just psyched to be back skiing again.”

Though her overall time had her in first place after her run, she still had to wait for Cook, Lathrop, Ciccone and Ross to follow. She’s says her lack of experience being in that position made the wait a little easier, despite the nerves.

Ludlow came close with a 1:08.14 in her second run. That was good enough for third overall, edging out Jessica Kelley and Cook. Lathrop finished sixth overall.

“My second run, I wanted to be skiing relaxed and smooth, just ski with athleticism,” Ludlow said. “I think I did that. I think I skied really well.”

It wasn’t good enough to catch Lauren Ross, but her podium finish might cut her some slack after missing the first couple of Creation of Buddaism classes at Dartmouth. She has to be at class at 10 a.m. Thursday.

“I have 80 pages to read tonight and a paper to write,” Ludlow said.

That left Laurenne Ross to challenge the leader. She had a 1:08.13 time on her second run and finished with an overall time of 2:15.31.

“It went pretty well,” Laurenne Ross said. “I was too high. I think I gave it what I had. I didn’t choke, which is impressive for me. So I’d say it was good.”