Chodounsky wins US slalom title on postcard day for racing

The men’s slalom podium at U.S. Alpine Championships. C.J. Feehan

David Chodounsky rallied from more than a half second down after first run at the U.S. Alpine Championships slalom in Squaw Valley to claim his second national title and the first in four years.

Third after the first run on a postcard day for racing, Chodounsky had to move past two-time NCAA slalom champion Espen Lysdahl as well as first run leader Tim Kelley to notch the win.

“I had a bobble first run so I skied solid but knew I could ski faster,” said Chodounsky. “All of these guys were skiing really fast …Will Brandburg, Colby Granstrom, Nolan Kasper. I knew I had to push it, and I did. I was on the limit in a couple spots but it worked out and I’m happy with the result.”

Former national team athlete and NCAA standout for the University of Vermont, Kelley won the first run and then displayed positive emotions in the finish area despite ultimately finishing second in the race.

“I feel awesome,” said Kelley, both enthusiastic about second-place and Chodounsky’s win. “I’ve always felt a bit cursed at Nationals … I watched Dave’s run and I was just psyched to be with him.”

Will Brandenburg closed out the podium with a second run charge that raised him up from fifth-place into third.

“I’m pretty disappointed,” he reflected. “I’m really happy for two of the best guys in ski racing. Dave wins and Timmy gets second. But this national title just keeps eluding me, and I’m not happy about that. Those guys are ripping skiers. Dave ripped second run and really put the pressure on.”

Both Kelley and Brandenburg, who will likely not be renamed to the U.S. Ski Team next season, plan to continue racing next season. Brandenburg has a World Cup start in slalom from this year’s NorAm standings, and Kelley has shown great promise this season in Europa Cup and NorAm racing.

Other second run charges were employed by Colby Granstrom, climbing from sixth to fourth with the second fastest run, and Michael Ankeny who used the fastest second run to leap from 17th to eighth.

University of Denver’s Lysdahl wound up fifth, University of Utah’s Mark Engel was sixth, Nolan Kasper seventh and Bryce Bennett, racing in a hot pink tutu that was given to him by the kids on the Squaw Valley Ski Team, tenth.

“Might as well have some fun… Keep it real in a tutu, keep it fun,” Brandenburg said.

The top junior skier was development team athlete Sandy Vietze in ninth followed by Team America’s Alex Leever in 13th and the University of Colorado’s Tanner Mottau in 14th.

The racing was well appreciated by a huge enthusiastic crowd, and the athletes appreciated the cheering right back.

“Squaw Valley, this is the coolest nationals I’ve seen atmosphere-wise. There are so many kids and fans out here. It really means a lot to the athletes to feel that energy,” concluded Chodounsky. 

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