First-time world junior competitor Allie Resnick led the U.S. team with a 12th-place finish in the GS at Bansko, Bulgaria. She was the lone U.S. finisher, thanks to clean skiing and quick tempo in her championship debut. Resnick joined AJ Hurt and Nicola Rountree-Williams, who did not finish

It was the first day without bluebird skies at Pirin Mountain, but pristine snow conditions and a solid track allowed for top-level skiing from the field. 

Hurt has been leading her fellow junior team members in GS rankings this year. Her race on Tuesday makes four-consecutive days of racing following two World Cup starts over the weekend in Jasna, Slovakia. She led the U.S. team on the first run with Bib 3. She had a strong start but fell slightly behind moving into the first pitch, charging to get back on her line and move down the fall line. A few small mistakes left Hurt off the fastest pace when crossing the finish line, finishing seventh after the first run. 

In the second run, Hurt was leading the pack in the top split, showing a newfound burst of energy in her skiing down the top pitch. A small mistake in her weight transfer led to an even bigger mistake, leaving Hurt searching for a recovery as her line sunk low. She skied straight through a right-footed turn and hit the ground, losing a ski and not finishing her second run. Hurt got back to her feet following the crash and is said to be OK. 

Resnick brought consistency and fall-line skiing to both her runs. Her tight line kept her ahead of the gates and in a powerful position on the front of her ski. While Resnick had a few minor mistakes in both runs, she put two runs together that gave her a top-15 world juniors finish, 1.87 seconds off the leader.

“Today was a super exciting day,” said Resnick. “The conditions were perfect, and the hill is really technical, which I like. At big races like this one, everyone is giving it all they have. It’s a fight down the mountain and I’m really happy with my skiing today.”

Rountree-Williams was the third U.S. member to compete in the GS. She brought smooth skiing to her first run, but when the finish was in sight, started to straighten out her line too early in the technical course set. She barely held it together, scrubbing all her speed through the finish and plunging her body through the panel of the last gate and onto the ground to qualify 28th for a second run. 

When the second run came for Rountree-Williams, she brought a tight line and powerful skiing down the top pitch. Similar to Hurt, she got behind on her skis in the middle of the course, catching her inside ski and flinging her upper body through the air. While able to recover from the maneuver, Rountree-Williams was not able to make the next gate and did not finish 

University of Utah freshman Madison Hoffman made her appearance on the world juniors stage representing Australia. The NCAA freshman finished 20th after the first run and brought clean skiing and a charging line to her second, moving up to 14th. 

Resnick and her teammates are looking forward to the slalom tomorrow. The race will also feature yet-to-ski Zoe Zimmermann, the slalom specialist who has sat out the last two days of racing. Live streaming can be seen at https://bansko2021.ski/live.