Jitloff lays down smoking race at nationals tune-up

The men’s FIS GS podium at Squaw Valley. USST

SQUAW VALLEY, Calif. – Olympian Tim Jitloff returned to his backyard to claim a decisive 2.79-second giant slalom victory on the same trail, Red Dog, that will be featured in Friday’s national championships. The FIS giant slalom was scheduled in advance of the championships after warm temperatures and a lack of snow prevented organizers from being able to hold the super G races.

“It was actually just nice to get the feel on the hill. It’s a very nice hill and they could certainly run the World Cup on this if they wanted. That’s a tough hill, you have to bring a lot of intensity,” said Jitloff, originally from Reno, Nev. “For me this is very relaxed, there’s not pressure here and I can just have fun. I grew up here. The first races I ever won as a kid were on Exhibition. “

The Red Dog trail was also new to another local athlete in the race, Truckee’s Mark Engel, the 2014 NCAA GS champion from the University of Utah who finished second.

“You’re always fighting on this hill. It’s long and steep all the way to the finish. It was really hard snow during the first run and the second run it was a little softer in some of the turns, but it never felt like it was going to give way … on Friday, I’m going to go for it a little bit more.”

Ryan Cochran-Siegle rounded out the podium in third while also coming away with some critical information for Friday’s race.

“You’ve got to be warmed up for the race and be active over the terrain. It’s a tough hill and it comes at you a lot. This is probably the hardest hill I’ve skied on all year. It’s pretty steep and doesn’t let up until the finish.

Under crystal blue skies and radiant sun, the top junior athletes duking it out were GMVS graduate Jack Schibli, who now skis with Global Racing, the U.S. Ski Team’s A.J. Ginnis and Kipling Weisel of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation who finished 11-12-13, respectively.

A boisterous crowd greeted finishers at the base of Squaw Valley, and all signs point to even more spectators rolling in for the national championship races, including at least one major addition to Friday’s start list.

“This is my backyard, but Ted (Ligety) is going to be here Friday and he’s the best there is,” noted Jitloff. “I’m going to battle with him, but who knows. We’re going to have fun and put on a show for the crowd. That way the young kids can see where the guys on the team are at and see it with their own eyes. That’s what’s important.”

The Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships women’s giant slalom featuring defending champion Julia Mancuso and Mikaela Shiffrin is set for Thursday (March 20), where Mancuso will look to add to her record 16 U.S. titles.

RESULTS