SKIING : Westerners Make Marks in Freestyle Competition

Far West competitors swept the ballet events in the World Freestyle Skiing Championships being held at Lake Placid, N.Y.

Ellen Breen, 27, of West Hills in the San Fernando Valley, took the women’s gold medal Monday, and Lane Spina, 29, of Reno became the men’s champion Tuesday. Their victories assure them places on the U.S. team that will demonstrate the sport at the 1992 Winter Olympics next February in France.

Donna Weinbrecht, 25, of West Milford, N.J., made it three-for-three for the United States by successfully defending her mogul title Wednesday.

The men’s moguls will be held today, followed by the aerials for both men and women Friday through Sunday.

Eva Twardokens boosted U.S. Alpine stock with her second place in the World Cup women’s giant slalom Sunday on a foggy course at Zwiesel, Germany.

The 25-year-old racer from Santa Cruz led after the first run but was outskied by Anita Wachter of Austria in the second run. Vreni Schneider of Switzerland finished third.

Austrian Petra Kronberger continues to hold a commanding lead in the overall standings, with 276 points to 145 for runner-up Carole Merle of France. The next women’s races will be held Feb. 23-24 at Furano, Japan.

All three World Cup men’s races--two downhills and a super-G--scheduled last weekend for the Olympic venues in Val d’Isere, France, were called off because of too much snow. International Skiing Federation officials are considering whether they want to override their previously announced decision not to reschedule any canceled races, but organizers of the March 8-10 event at Aspen, Colo., have already said they will not stage any makeup competition.

The next men’s races are set for March 1-2 at Lillehammer, Norway, site of the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, the American team is at Crested Butte, Colo., where the U.S. Alpine Championships begin today with both the men’s and women’s downhills.

In the World Nordic Ski Championships at Val di Femme, Italy, Nancy Fiddler of Crowley Lake has surprised everyone with two top-20 finishes while competing against the traditionally strong Scandinavian and Soviet skiers.

Fiddler, who turns 35 on Feb. 21, was 18th in the women’s five-kilometer classic-technique cross-country race Tuesday, after placing 20th in the 30-kilometer race last Friday.

The championships continue through Sunday.

Skiing Notes

Taped highlights of this week’s World Freestyle Skiing Championships at Lake Placid, N.Y., will be shown on ESPN, the ballet Friday at 5 p.m., the moguls Saturday at 2 p.m. and the aerials Sunday at 2 p.m. . . . Bob Beattie’s “Subaru Ski World” will include skiing at Saalbach, Austria; Keystone, Colo., and Park City, Utah, site of the recent National Brotherhood of Skiers Summit, Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Austrian Bernhard Knauss took a break from the U.S. Pro Tour, allowing Ove Nygren of Norway to win Saturday’s giant slalom and Phil Mahre of Yakima, Wash., to take Sunday’s slalom at Winter Park, Colo. Knauss still tops the standings with 388 points and $110,100 in earnings; Mahre is second with 308 and $46,725, followed by Nygren with 302 and $37,631. The entire troupe will have this weekend off, before going to Vail/Beaver Creek, Colo., Feb. 20-23. . . . Franz Klammer, Austria’s 1976 Olympic gold medalist, defeated Bill Johnson, the United States’ 1984 Olympic downhill champion, in the final of the Plymouth Tournament of Champions Sunday at Heavenly Valley. Kiki Cutter beat Suzy Chaffee in an all-American women’s final.

The season’s first World Cup speed skiing event is in progress through Friday at Les Arcs, France, where the sport will be demonstrated during the 1992 Winter Olympics. . . . Jimmie Heuga’s Mazda Ski Express will be at Squaw Valley Friday, with proceeds benefiting the Jimmie Heuga Center for the physically challenged at Avon, Colo. . . . Mammoth Mountain will play host to the Ray-Ban Great Race Series today. . . . Playboy Ski Fest ’91 will offer a potpourri of activities at Snow Summit Friday through Sunday. . . . Snow Valley will counter with Corona Days, featuring Mexican buffet lunches, Saturday through Monday.