BEAVER CREEK, CO (Dec. 7) - Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) destroyed the field on Sunday, coming back from fourth in the first run to take the Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom victory at Beaver Creek for the fifth straight year. Ligety's second run down the Birds of Prey piste will go down in legend, faster than Benni Raich, Alexis Pinturault and Marcel Hirscher, who led him in the morning.
Ligety pins a GS gate at Beaver Creek on Sunday. (Cody Downard Photography)
Plus, don't forget that Ligety was just over two weeks out from surgery on a fractured left wrist, with stitches plainly showing where four screws were inserted to stabilize the injury. "I was skiing for about a week without a pole because I couldn't really move my wrist much," said Ligety in his press conference. "But now it feels fine. I think in a way that was good practice for me. I think that helped my skiing a bit as well."
WATCH: LIGETY'S WINNING SECOND RUN
It was Ligety's 23rd giant slalom win, matching famed Michael von Grünigen from Switzerland, one of his childhood heroes. Next on the hit list is Ingemar Stenmark, who has 46 wins.
Chodounsky celebrates in the finish after his second run. (Justin Samuels)
It was a strong day for the U.S. Ski Team with two other men scoring World Cup points. Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) finished 11th the first run, and broke into the top 10 after the second run, grabbing ninth overall. Slalom-specialist David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) had a phenomenal first run bibbo—starting 66th and making the flip in 29th. After a thrilling second run, Chodounsky pulled off a 17th place, throwing his arms up in the finish to celebrate his first World Cup GS points. "Running more GS was one of my biggest goals this year," said Chodounsky. "I'm really happy it's going well and that I have a second event."
QUOTES
Ted Ligety
Any day you win a World Cup race is a good day, especially so on home soil—in front of the home crowd and friends and family. Second run was great. I was little frustrated after the first run; I didn't ski the way I wanted to. The second run, I was able to find the groove a little better.
Sölden didn't go great—it was more bad luck than anything anything It's nice to be here; this is a hill I'm really comfortable on.
LISTEN: LIGETY'S POST-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE
David Chodounsky
I knew I was skiing well, coming off of a second place in the NorAm last week. I just came in here wanting to have fun—whatever happened happened. I knew I had a shot here to make it in the top 30, but I wasn't expecting it. I was just going to have fun. I took advantage and had a good run. I'm really happy.
Running 66th [first run], I expected it to be a little worse, a little bumpier. But the course actually held up really well. I just had to put my foot in the groove that was there and push off of it. I did that and made it down right in the nick of time. Second run, it was so smooth. I could arc wherever I want to.
Running more GS was one of my biggest goals this year. I'm really happy it's going well and that I have a second event. My parents couldn't make it today; they're out of town. My mom is going to be really, really upset that she missed this!
Tim Jitloff
After Sölden and crushing it on the second run, I'm happy I came down and put together a solid second run. I have to build momentum going to Are and kick it up a notch—work my way in there and keep it solid. I didn't want to come into the second run with the approach of "I've got to do something special to get in the top 10." I just want to ski consistently, and the way I have been should be enough. As long as I continue with that kind of stable approach, I'll be fine.
RESULTS
Official Results
