Chodounsky Leads Americans in Slovenia

KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (March 4, 2016) – David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) came out of the 58th start position to finish as the top American in 26th at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom Friday. Tommy Ford (Reno, NV) continued his string of top 30s, finishing 27th in the weekend opener, which replaced the cancelled event from Garmisch.

“First run, I’m happy,” Chodounsky said. “I started in the back and felt like I skied well … aggressive. But then I completely over-skied the second run. It skied so much easier that I thought it would.”

Alexis Pinturault of France made the course look real easy, winning his fourth-straight World Cup giant slalom by 0.47 over Austria’s Philipp Schoerghofer. World Cup overall and giant slalom leader Marcel Hirscher of Austria was third. Hirscher increased his overall World Cup lead to 293 points over Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who finished fourth Friday. Pinturault’s victory moved him into second in the overall World Cup giant slalom standings, just 91 points behind Hirscher.

Brennan Rubie (Salt Lake City, UT), Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT), Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) and Kieffer Christianson (Anchorage, AK) did not qualify for the second run.

Up next, the men tackle another giant slalom Saturday in Kranjska Gora, and slalom Sunday. Both races will broadcast live on NBC Sports Live Extra.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Alexis Pinturault of France won his fourth-straight World Cup giant slalom.
• David Chodounsky and Tommy Ford both scored their third top-30 World Cup giant slalom finish of the season.
• Marcel Hirscher increased his overall World Cup lead to 293 points over Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen.
• Pinturault’s victory moved him into second in the overall World Cup giant slalom standings, just 91 points behind Hirscher.

QUOTES

David Chodounsky
First run, I’m happy. I started in the back and felt like I skied well and aggressive. But then I completely over-skied the second run. It skied so much easier that I thought it would. But I’m learning in GS still. I’m happy with today, I got some points and I’m going to keep my GS going.

Broadcast and Live Streaming (times EST)
Saturday, March 5
3:30 a.m. Men’s giant slalom run 1, Kranjska Gora - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
6:30 a.m. Men’s giant slalom run 2, Kranjska Gora - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra

Sunday, March 6
3:30 a.m. Men’s slalom run 1, Kranjska Gora - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra
6:30 a.m. Men’s slalom run 2, Kranjska Gora - LIVE - NBC Sports Live Extra

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom