River Radamus and Isaiah Nelson Photo: Ski Racing Media
Radamus Wins at Home in Vail
River Radamus charged to his third career U.S. National Championship giant slalom title on Monday, delivering a powerful second run to win on the hill where he grew up. The race, part of the U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel, was held in the Vail Valley, where Radamus has deep roots — and plenty of support.
The 26-year-old Olympian finished with a total time of 2:25.40, two-tenths ahead of teammate Bridger Gile. Isaiah Nelson rounded out the podium in third, finishing 1.63 seconds off the pace.
“It’s really great,” Radamus said. “This is the hill I grew up on. Coming home with the win is pretty special.”
The Vail Valley Connection
Radamus wasn’t just racing near home — he was sleeping in his own bed. His father, Aldo Radamus, played a major role in designing and improving the very race arena where the event was staged. With fans lining the finish area, River said he felt the support.
“Everybody knows I am a hometown boy,” he said. “It’s cool to see U.S. Nationals racing on this stage, coming to Vail.”
Radamus ended the World Cup season ranked 12th in GS, with 212 World Cup points in the discipline. He previously won U.S. Nationals GS titles in 2020 at Copper Mountain and 2024 in Sun Valley.
Gile, Nelson Round Out the Podium
Bridger Gile, who trained in Vail for eight years as a junior and has been a longtime member of the U.S. Ski Team, finished second. Originally from Aspen, Gile scored his first World Cup points this season with a 24th-place finish in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
“Growing up on this hill… it’s like home,” Gile said. “To race a very high-level national championship here after one of my best seasons is super cool.”
In third, Isaiah Nelson continued a strong national championships showing. After tying for second in the super-G, the Minnesotan landed on the podium again in GS. Though he’s still chasing his first World Cup points, he did qualify for a second run in Aspen during the 2024 season.
Teammates, Competitors, Brothers
Radamus, Gile, and Nelson turned Monday’s race into more than a podium—it became a shared triumph forged through years of training, sacrifice, and mutual respect.
“These guys are my family,” Radamus said. “I’ve seen how hard they’ve worked all year. To stand on the podium with them is really special.”
Gile appreciated the chance to compete head-to-head. “In Europe, we’re always competing on different race day schedules and start numbers. But here, it was a fair fight. That makes it even more meaningful.”
Radamus emphasized the importance of encouragement during the grind of chasing World Cup points.
“When you’re trying to break through, it can feel like you’re going nowhere,” he said. “I try to remind them they’re good enough. They’ve been pushing hard, and they showed today what they’re capable of.”
Dilling Tops Collegiate Racers
Jacob Dilling, racing in his final year of collegiate competition, finished fourth — the top result among university athletes. A native of Vail and a former U.S. Ski Team athlete, Dilling now skis for the University of Colorado.
“It’s just so nice to race on the home hill,” Dilling said. “It hasn’t changed a bit — but it’s changed a ton. Just nice to go head-to-head against guys I haven’t skied against in a long time.”
Dilling called the collegiate path a great avenue for rising skiers.
“It’s as good, if not better than the national team for someone like me,” he said. “Amazing coaches, great structure… they make it easy and affordable — minus the college tuition, of course.”
Dilling plans to ski in Europe next year.
Bocock Wins First GS National Title in Vail
Nineteen-year-old Elisabeth Bocock powered to victory in Monday’s giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel, earning her first national title in the discipline. The rising star on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team now holds two U.S. titles, having won the super-G last season in Sun Valley.
Bocock, who finished second in the GS at Nationals one year ago, delivered two aggressive runs on a challenging course in Vail to top a strong field of teammates.
“The hill itself is super challenging,” Bocock said. “Definitely the most tired I’ve been at the bottom of a run in years.”
Breakout Season for Bocock
This season, Bocock scored World Cup points three times and qualified for the second run on four occasions. She also captured two bronze medals at the Junior World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy — one in GS and one in the Team Parallel event.
“My first points were a real shock,” she said. “But it gave me confidence, and it’s been so fun to keep progressing.”
Podiuming at World Juniors had been her main goal. “That was the big one,” Bocock said. “I was happy to get that milestone.”
Hurt Charges to Second
AJ Hurt skied a strong second run to finish in second place, ending a season of determination and grit. Hurt battled back from early-season back pain and earned a spot in her second career World Cup Finals. She closed the World Cup year ranked 14th in GS.
“I’m proud of how I finished,” Hurt said. “I wanted to finish the season racing strong. And doing it here in Vail is special.”
She credited the atmosphere at Nationals for helping bring out her best.
“U.S. Nationals at Vail is just a bit different,” she said. “The crowd, the energy — it feels like a celebration of the sport.”
O’Brien Leads First Run, Ends Third
Nina O’Brien took the lead in the first run but settled for third after a tight battle in the afternoon. The result marked a full-circle moment — O’Brien won the U.S. GS title ten years ago as a teenager in Sugarloaf, Maine.
Now a veteran of the World Cup circuit, she has overcome significant injuries to reestablish herself among the sport’s elite. She finished this season ranked 11th in GS and earned another trip to the World Cup Finals.
Camaraderie Defines Vail Nationals
For Bocock, the U.S. Nationals are about more than podiums and points.
“This time of year, we’re all staying together — tech team, speed team, juniors, everyone,” she said. “We’ve been having so much fun. Volleyball games, dinners… it’s a real sense of community.”
She praised organizers for raising the level of the event.
“They did a great job with the show. Big crowd, cameras — it felt like the real deal,” Bocock said. “It’s been so much fun, and it’s a great way to end the season.”
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About the Author: Peter Lange
