Chodounsky Fights for Kitzbuehel Finish

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (Jan. 24, 2015)—On a demanding course that started just below Saturday’s shortened downhill run, David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) was the only American finisher in Sunday’s Kitzbuehel slalom, taking 26th place. Mattias Hargin of Sweden won the race, with Austrian Marcel Hirscher in second and Felix Neureuther of Germany in third.

Conditions were tough, with low visibility and plenty of fresh snow. It’s a hill with plenty of terrain changes, so the athletes needed to be on their feet the entire time. Chodounsky, sitting in 13th after a strong first run, lost his pole on the top of the course. But, instead of skiing out, Chodounsky punched every gate with his glove, crossblocking his way to the bottom. Although his time wasn’t fast, he showed dedication by finishing.

“I really haven’t had that big result yet,” said Chodounsky, during the race. “It makes it tougher, but I’ll just keep fighting and skiing the way I am. Good things will come hopefully.”

After a tough couple of weeks in slalom, Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) was disqualified on the first run after treating a vertical single gate as a delay. “There’s what’s called a ‘vertical single gate’ in a rhythm section. You can ski it either way—from above or directly in and out,” explained Sasha Rearick, men’s head coach. “Ted skied it as a delay. He went around both gates and didn’t cross the plane of the gate, so was disqualified.”

Will Bradenburg (Spokane, WA), Tim Kelley (Starksboro, VT), Michael Ankeny (Deephaven, MN) and Nolan Kaspen (Warren, VT) did not qualify for a second run.

There’s just one more race prior to the FIS Alpine World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, CO—Tuesday’s night slalom in Schladming, Austria. Stream the slalom on universalsports.com at 11:45 a.m. (first run) and 2:45 p.m. (second run) EST, or watch the second run live on TV at 2:30 p.m. on Universal Sports Network.

HIGHLIGHTS

• This was Mattias Hargin’s first World Cup win.
• David Chodounsky has not finished better than 11th in a World Cup slalom this season, but will be looking for a top-five result in Vail.
• Ted Ligety will sit out Schladming. Instead, he’ll head back to Park City to rest and train before Worlds.
• The formal announcement of the 2015 U.S. Alpine World Championships team will take place on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. EST.
• Watch Universal Sport’s re-air of the Kitzbuehel slalom at 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday and 11:00 p.m. EST on Monday.

QUOTES
David Chodounsky
I really haven’t had that big result yet. I almost did in Zagreb. If I get one good solid result, it should jump me up in the rankings quite a bit. Right now, I’m just kind of hanging out where I am. It makes it tougher, but I’ll just keep fighting and skiing the way I am. Good things will come hopefully.

I’m really looking for a break and it didn’t happen today. I lost a pole up top. I was going for it and I wanted to have a good run, but it didn’t work out. It was really difficult to make it down, especially here in Kitzbuehel with a lot of terrain and tough visibility. I’m still skiing well, so I’m hoping to bring that Schladming and on to Worlds.

Sasha Rearick, men’s head coach
On Ted Ligety’s disqualification: There’s what’s called a “vertical single gate” in a rhythm section. You can ski it either way—from above or directly in and out. Ted skied it as a delay. He went around both gates and didn’t cross the plane of the gate, so was disqualified.

RESULTS
Official results