Shiffrin, Chodounsky cruise to slalom crowns in Sun Valley

By Published On: March 25th, 2016Comments Off on Shiffrin, Chodounsky cruise to slalom crowns in Sun Valley

SUN VALLEY, Idaho – The top-ranked American slalom skiers put on nothing short of a disco stick spectacle on Friday as Mikaela Shiffrin and David Chodounsky won their races by 6.73 (no, that’s not a typo) and 2.36 seconds, respectively.

It was a clear and cold day as hard snow and testing course sets proved quite the challenge for both genders, with much the fields in both races failing to complete both runs.

On the women’s side, Shiffrin opened the race with bib one and didn’t look back, skiing with the composure and speed all have now grown accustomed to seeing en route to taking the title. After a disappointing first run, U.S. Ski Teamer and reigning NorAm slalom champion Lila Lapanja charged from eighth place to ultimately finish in second. Canadian Roni Remme of the University of Utah managed to hang on for third place.

Although today’s race wasn’t as intense as what Shiffrin is used to on the World Cup, the world’s best slalom skier said she still feels nerves even when there’s nothing on the line.

“I was going for it today,” Shiffrin said after the race. “I feel like if you’re going to race, you need to ski as fast as you can. It’s a nice springtime environment. I love the sun and I love this kind of snow, so it’s more relaxing in a sense, but when I got in the starting gate my heart was still beating in my chest.”

For Lapanja, even though Shiffrin’s winning margin was mighty humbling, the Lake Tahoe native nevertheless took positives out of her performance and looks ahead to another season racing World Cup slalom.

“First, I need to congratulate Mikaela for showing the world where she stands,” a gracious Lapanja said. “It really fires me up because I have something to chase and have work to do, but I’m excited about it. As for my skiing, yes, I was really disappointed after first run. I’ve been kind of tight the past couple of weeks. I just wanted to let go second run a little bit and ski freely and remember why I love skiing slalom. I just brought an attacking mentality to second run and that taps me into my best skiing.”

For the men, fans were treated to high-intensity racing as a stacked field battled it out for top honors. Chodounsky turned in two dominant performances to take the win, with American independent racer Robby Kelley of Redneck Racing grabbing his first ever alpine championship slalom podium in second. Fellow World Cup skier Michael Ankeny also battled his way to third place to cap off his season. Jack Keane charged from bib 49 to capture top junior honors in ninth place.

“This has been my best season, hands down,” Chodounsky said in the finish. “I just felt really good today. I’m just so comfortable skiing right now and I really love the feeling that I have when I’m skiing right now, so in control and fast. I feel great and to get this at the end of the season is awesome.”

“It was my biggest goal, to finish the year in the top 15,” he added of his World Cup performance this season which saw him finish the year ranked 15th in the world in slalom. “After St. Moritz, I wasn’t quite sure. I didn’t have the best second run there. I thought I had moved out of it for sure. But then I looked at the rankings and there were a couple of other guys who also didn’t have a great result. That kept me in the 15 and I was so happy.”

Kelley has been focusing more on his slalom in recent years and was quick to praise Chodounsky’s skiing. Kelley no doubt is eager to make his mark on the world stage after impressive results at the Europa Cup level earlier in the year, although he admits that he still has work to do.

“I think Dave is skiing as fast as anybody in the world right now,” Kelly said. “It’s awesome just to watch that. I thought first run I skied pretty well, a little safe, and then second run I got tossed out up top and then kind of backed off the rest of the way, which didn’t really matter because even if I skied out of my mind, I wouldn’t have been able to catch Dave. I’m happy to stay in second.”

Ankeny saw himself land inside of the World Cup slalom points twice this season in Adelboden and Kitzbuehel. After several years of knocking on the door, he said it was a huge weight of of his shoulders to get into a second run and hopes to take that momentum into next season.

“It was a great event,” Ankeny said. “The snow was really aggressive, so it was easy to over-turn in the first run, but it held up great in the second run. The crew out here did a great job with the conditions. It’s fun racing and it’s fun competing against your best friends.”

See more photos from today’s race in the gallery here.

Men’s giant slalom is on the schedule for Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho.


Official Women’s Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Diff.
 1  1  6535237 SHIFFRIN Mikaela 1995 USA  54.43  52.13  1:46.56
 2  6  539927 LAPANJA Lila 1994 USA  1:00.60  52.69  1:53.29  +6.73
 3  5  107583 REMME Roni 1996 CAN  59.89  53.57  1:53.46  +6.90
 4  12  516441 BREGOU Anne-Solene 1996 SUI  58.92  54.92  1:53.84  +7.28
 5  11  385041 NOVOSELIC Sofija 1990 CRO  59.38  54.56  1:53.94  +7.38
 6  8  206464 BREUNING Ann-Kathrin 1992 GER  58.61  55.76  1:54.37  +7.81
 7  27  6535759 LEBBY Stephanie 1997 USA  59.37  55.22  1:54.59  +8.03
 8  21  6535765 MANGAN Patricia 1997 USA  1:01.22  53.80  1:55.02  +8.46
 9  15  539848 ALTRINGER Courtney 1993 USA  1:00.91  55.84  1:56.75  +10.19
 10  49  6535455 JOHNSON Breezy 1996 USA  1:01.47  56.21  1:57.68  +11.12
 11  35  6535762 LORD Madison 1997 USA  1:01.69  56.03  1:57.72  +11.16
 12  17  107562 GARTNER Stephanie 1996 CAN  1:01.82  56.08  1:57.90  +11.34
 13  26  539665 LEAVITT Sierra 1993 USA  1:02.53  56.24  1:58.77  +12.21
 14  51  6536232 VESTERSTEIN Kaitlyn 1999 USA  1:03.63  58.46  2:02.09  +15.53
 15  31  107563 HENRY Mia 1996 CAN  1:03.77  58.90  2:02.67  +16.11
 16  38  539984 DRILLER Tenaya 1994 USA  1:05.78  57.16  2:02.94  +16.38
 17  69  6536166 SMITH Erin 1999 USA  1:06.56  58.10  2:04.66  +18.10
 18  50  6535807 CUTLER Haley 1997 USA  1:10.76  56.76  2:07.52  +20.96
 19  57  6535941 PARKE Juliette 1998 USA  1:07.44  1:01.42  2:08.86  +22.30
 20  72  6535953 GREENE Nicole 1998 USA  1:08.55  1:01.70  2:10.25  +23.69
 21  47  6536020 HUST Rosie 1998 USA  1:07.49  1:06.44  2:13.93  +27.37
 22  59  6535572 BOWERS Dairinn 1996 USA  1:12.46  1:03.86  2:16.32  +29.76
 23  63  6535749 HOGAN Lily 1997 USA  1:18.99  1:00.85  2:19.84  +33.28
 24  37  539700 WHISTLER Paige 1993 USA  1:25.50  55.93  2:21.43  +34.87
 25  70  6536005 MASS Hanna 1998 USA  1:16.25  1:09.09  2:25.34  +38.78
 26  56  6535747 HARRIS Katy 1997 USA  1:26.70  1:00.59  2:27.29  +40.73
 27  67  6536023 BERNIER Maya 1998 USA  1:28.49  1:01.13  2:29.62  +43.06
 28  71  6536330 MCMURTRY Jessica 1999 USA  1:12.10  1:33.21  2:45.31  +58.75
Disqualified 2nd run
 16  6535773 O BRIEN Nina 1997 USA
Disqualified 1st run
 73  539363 GHENT Abby 1992 USA
 34  6536213 CASHMAN Keely 1999 USA
 9  425949 HOLE Kari Bergheim 1992 NOR
Did not finish 2nd run
 36  6535789 UTTER Kathleen 1997 USA
 25  6535485 REINHART Jessica 1996 USA
 10  426032 TRULSRUD Tonje Healey 1994 NOR
Did not finish 1st run
 68  6535761 LIVRAN Heidi 1997 USA
 66  6535840 THORSON Berit 1997 USA
 65  6535792 GAILIUNAS Kara 1997 USA
 64  6535947 DECKER Cecily 1998 USA
 62  6535538 SPENCE Erin 1996 USA
 61  6535992 THOMAS Claire 1998 USA
 60  6535771 NAWROCKI Rachel 1997 USA
 58  6536109 MATTSSON Ava 1998 USA
 55  6535774 OSTERGREN Madison 1997 USA
 54  6536236 TOWNSHEND Charlotte 1999 USA
 53  6535942 LEBEL Maureen 1998 USA
 52  506693 BECKMAN Emma 1996 SWE
 48  6535907 ENGLISH Francesca 1997 USA
 46  6535661 STANDTEINER Tenaya 1996 USA
 45  6535456 JOHNSON Hannah 1996 USA
 44  6536179 TALBOT Nellie Rose 1999 USA
 43  6535999 DEKKO Madeleine 1998 USA
 42  6535934 KLOMHAUS Storm 1998 USA
 41  539457 MARNO Anna 1992 USA
 40  539904 PALMER Teagen 1994 USA
 39  307386 DENDA Kayo 1995 JPN
 33  6535978 BAILEY Lucia 1998 USA
 32  6535193 HUNSAKER Hannah 1995 USA
 30  6536177 UTTER Hannah 1999 USA
 29  6536028 CURTIS Ellie 1998 USA
 28  197371 AUFRERE Marie 1993 FRA
 24  536481 SCHLEPER Sarah 1979 MEX
 23  6535600 MERRYWEATHER Alice 1996 USA
 22  6535930 WARDLE Galena 1998 USA
 20  6535806 MCGREW Megan 1997 USA
 19  426069 LYCHE Benedicte Oseid 1994 NOR
 18  539678 PETERSON Foreste 1993 USA
 14  425918 SEKSE Tonje 1992 NOR
 13  538284 MCJAMES Megan 1987 USA
 7  539909 MOLTZAN Paula 1994 USA
 4  426160 MOHAGEN Julie Flo 1996 NOR
 3  537772 STIEGLER Resi 1985 USA
 2  107556 MCCARTHY Jocelyn 1996 CAN

Official Men’s Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Run 1 Run 2 Total Time Diff.
 1  5  534508 CHODOUNSKY David 1984 USA  51.49  51.98  1:43.47
 2  6  930160 KELLEY Robby 1990 USA  52.31  53.52  1:45.83  +2.36
 3  2  934502 ANKENY Michael 1991 USA  53.53  52.83  1:46.36  +2.89
 4  15  934523 ENGEL Mark 1991 USA  53.79  52.73  1:46.52  +3.05
 5  8  930194 MCNEALUS Andrew 1990 USA  53.77  54.43  1:48.20  +4.73
 6  52  934568 RUBIE Brennan 1991 USA  54.63  53.91  1:48.54  +5.07
 7  25  501814 OESTER Carl-johan 1992 SWE  54.67  54.64  1:49.31  +5.84
 8  26  6530538 WOOLSON Thomas 1993 USA  54.46  54.86  1:49.32  +5.85
 9  49  6532091 KEANE Jack 1998 USA  56.34  53.69  1:50.03  +6.56
 9  18  930188 MARSHALL Tucker 1990 USA  55.77  54.26  1:50.03  +6.56
 11  35  6531486 FUCIGNA Peter 1996 USA  55.41  55.27  1:50.68  +7.21
 12  17  6531160 LEEVER Alex 1995 USA  56.61  54.50  1:51.11  +7.64
 13  14  530651 STIEGLER Seppi 1988 USA  56.59  54.79  1:51.38  +7.91
 14  41  6531127 DUFFY Drew 1995 USA  56.33  55.72  1:52.05  +8.58
 15  12  422134 BJERTNESS Endre 1992 NOR  57.00  55.23  1:52.23  +8.76
 16  28  6531145 HALL Max 1995 USA  56.49  56.32  1:52.81  +9.34
 17  58  6290244 NOGARA Nicolo 1992 ITA  57.05  55.95  1:53.00  +9.53
 18  57  6532163 SEYMOUR Jett 1998 USA  57.13  56.01  1:53.14  +9.67
 19  47  6531520 MORSE Sam 1996 USA  57.90  55.44  1:53.34  +9.87
 20  67  6532149 MILLER Andrew 1998 USA  57.52  56.49  1:54.01  +10.54
 21  29  422305 BAKKE Morten Ungersness 1994 NOR  1:00.11  54.73  1:54.84  +11.37
 22  78  6532347 DILLING Jacob 1999 USA  58.65  57.54  1:56.19  +12.72
 23  81  6532406 MACALUSO Matthew 1999 USA  58.78  58.10  1:56.88  +13.41
 24  61  6530845 BOARDMAN Michael 1994 USA  59.21  57.75  1:56.96  +13.49
 25  3  103729 READ Erik 1991 CAN  1:05.31  53.84  1:59.15  +15.68
 26  38  6531192 SANTANIELLO Nick 1995 USA  1:09.75  55.97  2:05.72  +22.25
 27  62  6531681 DE JONG Devin 1996 USA  1:06.91  59.11  2:06.02  +22.55
 28  44  6531610 HANCOCK Andrew 1996 USA  1:06.02  1:01.20  2:07.22  +23.75
 29  82  6531971 HENDERSON Macintyre 1997 USA  1:02.45  1:13.25  2:15.70  +32.23
 30  83  6531965 BRAZEROL Dominik 1997 USA  1:18.64  1:02.01  2:20.65  +37.18
Disqualified 2nd run
 54  6532116 KRUPKA Jimmy 1998 USA
 11  990051 BOSCA Giulio 1990 ITA
Disqualified 1st run
 66  6532165 ANDERSON Tommy 1998 USA
 53  6531474 DVORACEK Addison 1996 USA
 9  530165 BRANDENBURG Will 1987 USA
Did not start 1st run
 85  6532419 TERJESON Hayden 1999 USA
 84  6531509 LEBEL James 1996 USA
 27  6531963 STEFFEY George 1997 USA
Did not finish 2nd run
 80  310410 VUKOVIC Andrija 1994 SRB
 75  6531598 JORDAN Colby 1996 USA
 73  6531560 WILSON Cody 1996 USA
 72  6531987 KELSEY Sky 1997 USA
 68  6531262 OLIN Teagan 1995 USA
 60  6532357 LANGE Colby 1999 USA
 56  6530544 BENDA Jake 1993 USA
 55  6532001 COOPER Michael 1997 USA
 43  6531203 SPROCK Ty 1995 USA
 40  501810 HOEGBOM Erik 1992 SWE
 39  6530168 SMITH Cameron 1992 USA
 37  104311 GRASIC Martin 1995 CAN
 33  6531444 ARVIDSSON Erik 1996 USA
 31  6531135 FRANCIS Brian 1995 USA
 24  6530534 VIETZE Sandy 1993 USA
 23  104044 READ Kevyn 1993 CAN
 19  6530115 CHRISTIANSON Kieffer 1992 USA
 7  934566 ROBERTS Hig 1991 USA
 1  530837 KELLEY Tim 1986 USA
Did not finish 1st run
 79  6532137 BIRKNER Alexander 1998 USA
 77  6531854 GRIFFITH Ian 1997 USA
 76  6530925 VAN DEURSEN Jake 1994 USA
 74  6531401 MITCHELL Nicholas 1995 USA
 71  6532009 CASHMAN Jordan 1997 USA
 70  6531928 KENNEY Patrick 1997 USA
 69  6531917 CAMPBELL Pate 1997 USA
 65  6531872 MATHERS Luke 1997 USA
 64  6532354 GILE Bridger 1999 USA
 63  6531865 LARSEN Gray 1997 USA
 59  6532123 NEGOMIR Kyle 1998 USA
 51  6531847 DOMONOSKE David 1997 USA
 50  6531981 SLATTERY Logan 1997 USA
 48  6531519 MOONEY Ryan 1996 USA
 46  502236 FRISK David 1997 SWE
 45  6532084 RADAMUS River 1998 USA
 42  6531217 WEISEL Kipling 1995 USA
 36  6530454 FARROW Tanner 1993 USA
 34  103942 BELL Jeffrey 1993 CAN
 32  6531115 BROWN Griffin 1995 USA
 30  6531545 SULLIVAN Aleck 1996 USA
 22  54171 NEUHAUSER David 1993 AUT
 21  6530500 MCLAUGHLIN Brian 1993 USA
 20  6530104 BENNETT Bryce 1992 USA
 16  6531472 DRILLER Garret 1996 USA
 13  6530167 SHIFFRIN Taylor 1992 USA
 10  531799 FORD Tommy 1989 USA
 4  6531063 GINNIS AJ 1994 USA

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About the Author: Sean Higgins

A Lake Tahoe native and University of Vermont graduate, Higgins was a member of the Catamounts' 2012 NCAA title winning squad and earned first team All-American honors in 2013. Prior to coming to Ski Racing Media, he coached U14s for the Squaw Valley Ski Team.