Ford Top U.S. Finisher In Garmisch GS
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Jan. 29, 2017) - Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) picked up his third Audi FIS Ski World Cup top-15 giant slalom result of the season, finishing 14th on Sunday.
Austria’s Marcel Hirscher skied to his 20th career World Cup giant slalom victory by a massive 1.50 seconds ahead of Matts Olsson of Sweden in second and 1.95 seconds in front of Stefan Luitz of Germany in third. With his victory, Hirscher pulled further ahead of Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who finished seventh Sunday, in the overall World Cup standings.
Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV), who is returning to form following a back injury last month, posted his first top 20 of the season, finishing 20th on the demanding and dark Kandahar course.
“Considering I couldn’t walk two weeks ago, I’m pretty damn happy about today,” Jitloff said. “It was a solid effort, and the skiing was not bad at all – the second run I just had an unlucky mistake there that cost me probably a top 15.”
Tim Jitloff was 20th at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Alain Grosclaude)
Ford started 26th and finished 10th in the first run. In the second run, he made a slight mistake, but kept charging to the finish.
“I made a mistake up higher and I felt like I had to kind of push it,” Ford said. “I was right on the edge, and there is a little shelf in there that was hard to see, but I was still going, skiing well.
“Today was really good. I skied really well and had a good time doing it. I made some improvements; I’m ready for the next one,” he added.
Sunday’s race was the final World Cup giant slalom before next month’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Up next, the men compete in a City Event in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tommy Ford was 14th in Sunday’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom.
- Tim Jitloff finished 20th, for his first top 20-result of the season.
- David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO), Brennan Rubie (Salt Lake City, UT) and Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT) did not qualify for the second run.
- Austria’s Marcel Hirscher won his 20th World Cup giant slalom race by a massive 1.50 seconds.
- Road to Aspen: Hirscher (1,260 points) pulled further ahead of Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen (828), who finished seventh Sunday, in the overall World Cup standings. Hirscher also extended his World Cup giant slalom overall lead (533) over Alexis Pinturault (439), who finished fourth Sunday.
QUOTES
Tommy Ford
Today was really good. I skied really well and had a good time doing it. I made some improvements; I’m ready for the next one.
I made a mistake up higher and I felt like I had to kind of push it. I was right on the edge, and there is a little shelf in there that was hard to see, but I was still going, skiing well.
Tim Jitloff
Considering I couldn’t walk two weeks ago, I’m pretty damn happy about today. It was a solid effort, and the skiing was not bad at all – the second run I just had an unlucky mistake there that cost me probably a top 15.
It’s been a very injury-filled season, and for me just to be on the start today and in one piece, that’s enough for me for today.
BROADCAST AND LIVE STREAMING (times EST)
All events streaming at www.nbcsports.com/live
Tuesday, Jan. 31
11:00 a.m. – City Event, Stockholm - nbcsports.com - LIVE STREAMING
7:00 p.m. – City Event, Stockholm – Universal HD
RESULTS
Men’s giant slalom
