Celebration of River Radamus’s first podium in Palisades Tahoe: GEPA Pictures

ASPEN- It’s been three seasons since three American men qualified in a FIS World Cup slalom, and for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes who just completed their North American leg of the tour, there’s no place like home.

Three GS races and two slaloms over two weekends at Palisades Tahoe and Aspen, which ended March 3, netted a podium by River Radamus, a top-15 by Jett Seymour, Isaiah Nelson’s first-ever second run, and the trio of Luke Winters, Ben Ritchie, and Seymour making the flip for slalom on a challenging Aspen course.

“A couple of years ago, we didn’t even have a slalom team, and to have two races in the U.S. as well as three Americans in the second run is awesome,” Seymour said Sunday afternoon, during heavy snowfall at the culmination of the Stifel Aspen Winternational series.

The day before, on a sunny and windy Saturday, Tommy Ford spoke of competing on back-to-back weekends in North America. 

“Being on home snow for three GSs doesn’t get much better,” Ford said. He finished 20th in the GS at Palisades and 16th in the second Aspen GS. 

“In that regard, you just feel the energy from the crowds. Here and (Palisades Tahoe), it just feels good. And again, friends and family can actually come and see what we do and enjoy it.”

Head Tech Coach Comments

U.S. men’s head technical coach Ian Garner said, “Racing at home is amazing for the guys. They just draw on that.” He used the example of Winters, Ritchie and Seymour and how they are starting to gel as teammates after being together for four years. That was on full display in Aspen.

“I think we’re really building consistency and teamwork. Each race, one, two —now to have all three of them in there is good. The next step is getting across the finish line fast in the second run,” Garner said.

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Isaiah Nelson’s first-ever second run in a World Cup giant slalom came in Aspen but ended four gates from the finish, a “devastating” result, he admitted.  But Nelson felt the support of the audience on his side during his run.

“Having the crowd in your favor is a lot of fun. It gives you a lot of energy,” Nelson said.

“It takes the Europeans out of their element a little bit. They’re all a little bit uncomfortable here in the U.S. And I think it shows. I had a lot of fast sections starting in Tahoe. (March 2 in Aspen) was closer to a good race as well, with some sections before I DNF’d,” he said.

“I definitely progressed a lot in the last three races, and a big part of that is because it was here in the U.S.,” Nelson added.

At Palisades last weekend, Luke Winters expressed that he felt supported by a contingent of kids from Sugar Bowl Academy, his alma mater.

“People are here cheering for us. We don’t get that often,” Winters said.

Milestones in America

For the first time in his World Cup career, and at Stifel Aspen Winternational, River Radamus started among the first seven of the giant slalom.

“It’s sort of a milestone in a ski race. And, you know, it’s something I’ve worked really hard for,” Radamus said.

“I started outside of the second group at the beginning of the season, and so seeing races come together, seeing the results get there so that I continue to improve and continue to build upon the rankings is cool; it’s special. You know, it’s a moment to reflect on.”

Before his run on Sunday, Ben Ritchie’s crew struggled to rectify a broken booster strap, hindering his experience in Aspen.He finished 27th. 

The Vermonter raced the Stiflel Aspen Winternational course for the first time, having only competed twice at Palisades before.

“It’s nice to just be in America. You don’t realize how nice it is to speak the native language when you are home,” he said.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Sunday was the first time that “Ben, Luke and I have been able to put down clean runs and get in there for a second run,” Jett Seymour said.