Carrabassett Valley Academy Junior, Amie Rowland competes in the FIS Eastern Cup Alpine Race Series at Sunday River recently. BETHEL — At the season opener for the FIS Eastern Cup Alpine Race Series, Carrabassett Valley Academy Junior, Amie Rowland, finished third in slalom. Competing against 120 of the top college and high school women from the eastern United States 16-yearold Rowland sealed her place on the podium by posting the fastest second run at the Sunday River race.

"I'm not completely surprised by the result. Amie takes care of the details required to be successful in this sport, skis a lot —often on her own— works hard in the gym and excels in the classroom. We could see last spring after she returned from Junior Olympics in Aspen, Colo. that things were starting to happen for Amie. I've said for a long time that she has a unique ability to make the skis go at the top of the turn," according to Head CVA Women's Alpine Coach, Martin Gray.

Kicking off the season with an Eastern Cup podium jump starts Rowland's 2008-09 competition season and earned her the opportunity to compete at a recent NorAm race in Canada. A NorAm start exposed Rowland to an international field of alpine racers.