Ford Cracks Top 20 in Aspen Giant Slalom

On the second day of the Stifel Aspen Winternational presented by United, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Tommy Ford led the way for the U.S. squad, finishing 16th place and taking the third fastest time on second run. 

“I knew it was fast and it felt fast in the bottom section especially,” said Ford. 

The conditions Saturday resembled more of an ice rink as the watering and injection from the week prior set extra well the night before. The world’s best were not phased by the icy conditions, putting on a show for the Aspen crowd. River Radamus kicked things off first for the team running third, but got inside at the third gate, leaning in and barely making the next few gates. He squeaked it into the top 30 for a second run. Ford skied solidly with some mistakes to finish 26th first run. Lastly, Isaiah Nelson skied speedily to tie Radamus in 30th, his first time making a second run on the World Cup tour. 

While it was not the first run the team was hoping for, they prepared mentally to attack the second run. Radamus ran first and immediately went into the lead and ended up 22nd. Nelson was on fire, knifing every turn and posting fast split. But he unfortunately bobbled right before the finish and did not finish. 

Ford saw his opportunity and seized it, skiing the best run of his season going into the lead. He ended up moving up 10 spots to 16th place and notched the third fastest second run. 

“Consistency was key today and not doing too much between runs,” said Ford. “It’s hard to be patient up there but I was able to do it and it felt good. I am going to focus on what I’m doing.”

The winner of the race was none other than Marco Odermatt of Switzerland. Despite a major mistake on his second run, no one can seemingly unseat the giant slalom king, who is now 9-0 in the last nine giant slaloms. Second place went to teammate Loic Meillard and third place was Norway’s Timon Haugan. Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Brian McLaughlin, George Steffey and independent athlete Patrick Kenney also raced but did not qualify for second run. 

There is one more giant slalom in the regular World Cup season next week in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. The final day of racing in Aspen will be a slalom on Sunday. 

RESULTS
Men's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH (all times in ET)
March 3
11:00 a.m. - run 1, men's giant slalom - LIVE: CNBC, Peacock, Outside
2:00 p.m. - (delayed coverage) men’s slalom, Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup - NBC
1:30 p.m. - run 2, men’s slalom - NBC coverage begins
2:00 p.m. - run 2, men's giant slalom - LIVE: NBC, Peacock, Outside