Ford Top 10 in Alta Badia Giant Slalom

On Sunday’s giant slalom in Alta Badia, Italy, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Tommy Ford secured a ninth place position, his first top 10 finish of the season. 

It was a clear and sunny day for a men’s giant slalom race in the Italian dolomites and the world’s top giant slalom skiers were ready to push on the fan-favorite course. Swiss skier Marco Odermatt once again dominated the hill, taking the first run lead with Croatia’s Filip Zubcic in second and Austrian Marco Schwarz in third. 

Tommy Ford ran with bib 25 and arced clean turns down the pitch to land in 15th position after the first run. Ford was one of the last skiers with a higher bib than 15 to punch a run into the top 15 group.

On the second run, the course set was rhythmical, but the racers still needed to fight to make up time down the pitch and onto the flats. Ford ran in the middle of the field and nailed the run from top to bottom with a few minor mistakes. He punched the line into first and moved up six spots to snag ninth place. 

“I love being here with great conditions and could not ask for a better day,” said Ford. “I was just letting it go, not overthinking it and it was good.” 

The winner of the day was Marco Odermatt with Croatia’s Filip Zubcic close behind. Third place was back by a wide 2.26 second gap with Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec. 

Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Brian McLaughlin and Isaiah Nelson did not qualify for a second run in 45th and 51st place. George Steffey and River Radamus did not finish the first run. 

The men will have another crack at the Alta Badia giant slalom Monday.

RESULTS
Men's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
Men’s giant slalom, Alta Badia, Italy, run 1 4:00 a.m. ET, run 2, 7:30 a.m. ET, skiandsnowboard.live