Kelley Scores First WC Points in Wengen

WENGEN, Switzerland (January 17, 2016) – It took 31 World Cup races, but Tim Kelley (Starksboro, VT) finally scored his first World Cup points in front of his biggest fans.

“My parents flew over for this race, so it’s really special to finally be in the points,” Kelley said after finishing 12th in Sunday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup.

Norway’s Henrik Kristofferson won the race to increase his overall World Cup slalom lead over Austria’s Marcel Hirscher. Italy’s Giuliano was second, followed by countryman Stefano Gross in third.

Kelley credited his three years of college racing for the University of Vermont, where he was an NCAA First Team All American and 2011 NCAA Slalom Champion, for his solid result in Sunday's Classic slalom race.

“I raced three years in college, and this was similar to a college set, a little more open than the typical World Cup set, and the terrain was a little flatter,” said Kelley, who last qualified for a second run in Adelboden last season, but straddled a gate. “I was just able to charge right from the start.”

David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) competes in the first run of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom Sunday in Wengen. (Getty/AFP-Fabrice Coffrini)

David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) finished 20th Sunday, and could have placed even higher if it wasn’t for a blinding snow squall that moved through right before he started his second run.

“I hate making excuses, but I felt like I got completely hosed today,” said Chodounsky, who was 13th in the first run. “Everything was great, first run was good, I was confident, skis were working great, then on the second run, a squall came in and I couldn’t see anything on my way down.

“On this hill you have to generate speed on every single turn because it is so flat, and I just wasn’t able to do that on the second run,” he added.

The quick moving snow squall also wreaked havoc with Hirscher, who trailed Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal by 16 points in the overall World Cup standings coming into Sunday’s event. As heavy snow fell, Hirscher missed a gate halfway down the course, skied back up to round the gate, then continued his run only to miss another gate near the finish and ski off course.

Up next, the classics continue for the men as they head to Kitzbuehel, Austria for four events: super G, combined, downhill and slalom, Jan. 22-24.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tim Kelly scored his first career World Cup points in his 31st start
• Norway’s Henrik Kristofferson won the race to increase his overall World Cup slalom lead over Austria’s Marcel Hirscher.
• Kristofferson now has eight World Cup victories.
• Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal continue to lead the overall World Cup standings by 16 points over Hirscher.
• The men’s slalom will air on NBC Universal at 7 p.m. (EST) Sunday

QUOTES

Tim Kelley
My parents flew over for this race, so it’s really special to finally be in the points.

I raced three years in college, and this was similar to a college set, a little more open than the typical World Cup set, and the terrain is a little flatter. I was just able to charge right from the start.

I felt so solid on my skis, something I haven’t felt for a while, so hopefully I can keep moving forward from here.

David Chodounsky
It’s not a bad result; top 30 in a World Cup is always great.

I hate making excuses, but I felt like I got completely hosed today. Everything was great, first run was good, I was confident, skis were working great, then on the second run a squall came in and I couldn’t see anything on my way down.

On this hill you have to generate speed on every single turn because it is so flat, and I just wasn’t able to do that on the second run.

BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)

Sunday, Jan. 17
7:00 p.m. – Men’s Slalom, Wengen – NBC Universal

RESULTS
Men’s slalom