Ford Leads U.S. in Adelboden

ADELBODEN, Switzerland (Jan. 7, 2017) – Battling a tough course and flat light, Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) was the top American finisher at the Adelboden giant slalom, taking 19th place.

Alexis Pinturault took his 19th Audi FIS Ski World Cup win, making him the most successful French skier of all time—over the famed Jean-Claude Killy. Marcel Hirscher of Italy put down a blazing second run, but finished second overall, just .04 seconds behind Pinturault. Hirscher’s teammate Philipp Schoerghofer was third.

Hirscher’s result brought him to 100 World Cup podiums—level with Marc Girardelli’s podium count—making him the second most successful skier in history, behind Ingemar Stenmark.

The Americans skied well, with Ford and Brennan Rubie (Salt Lake City, UT) sitting 13th and 14th respectively after the first run. Though course set and flat light hindered them second run, both grabbed points from the day.

“I thought I skied well,” said Ford of his run. “It’s dark light and I was moving well through most of the course. I had a hard time generating on that set and on the bottom, it’s just getting used to it. It’s definitely a challenging bottom section, but I’m happy to have more time on it and get points.”

Behind Ford, Rubie scored his first giant slalom points, finishing in 24th. “I was pretty happy with the way it turned out,” said Rubie, who referenced the tough light, but acknowledged that he made a few mistakes. “It was more just my skiing and I have a ways to go, but I’m happy with getting my first points in GS.”

The men race slalom next at Adelboden to wrap up the weekend.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tommy Ford was the top U.S. finisher in 19th.
• Brennan Rubie took his first giant slalom points in 24th.
• Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT) did not qualify for second run.
• Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO), who recently won a NorAm GS in Vermont, made his return to the World Cup, but did not finish first run. David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) also DNFed first run.
• Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) has been battling back pain and decided to sit out the race. Tim Jitloff (Park City, UT) also did not start.
• Road to Aspen: Marcel Hirscher continues to lead the overall hunt with 833 points, but Pinturault continues to add points, moving up to second place in the overall ahead of Kjetil Jansrud of Norway. The two also sit 1-2 in the giant slalom standings.
• Next, the men race slalom at Adelboden on Sunday.

QUOTES

Tommy Ford
I thought I skied well. It’s dark light and I was moving well through most of the course. I had a hard time generating on that set and on the bottom, it’s just getting used to it. It’s definitely a challenging bottom section, but I’m happy to have more time on it and get points. (The light was) pretty flat. You can’t see any of those micro-terrains. You see people getting their feet thrown up and there are some little crossruts in there. It’s all feel. You just have to have a good inspection.

Brennan Rubie
I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. I think I skied well on top and I had a mistake. I’m not really sure—it all happened so fast—so I gotta watch some video and see what I can do next time. First run helped a lot—the light was flat and I got used to it. I made a lens switch and I was better. It was more just my skiing and I have a ways to go, but I’m happy with getting my first points in GS.

RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom

BROADCAST & LIVE STREAM (all times EST)
Sunday, Jan. 8
4:30 a.m. – men’s slalom, run 1 – nbcsports.com – LIVE STREAM
6:00 a.m. – men’s slalom, run 2 – nbcsports.com and NBCSN - LIVE