Elisabeth and Mary Bocock / Photo SRM
Elisabeth Bocock won the women’s giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Nationals presented by Stifel in Vail, Colorado, leading a historic 1–2 finish with her sister Mary Bocock. Katie Hensien completed the podium in third, highlighting the depth of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and the rising strength of U.S. women’s alpine skiing.
The race delivered a defining moment of the championships, where rising talent and established World Cup athletes pushed the limit on a demanding, late-season surface.
Top 5 – Women’s Giant Slalom
- 1st 🇺🇸 Elisabeth Bocock (2005, Stifel U.S. Ski Team / Rowmark Ski Academy) — 2:05.10
- 2nd 🇺🇸 Mary Bocock (2003, Stifel U.S. Ski Team / Rowmark Ski Academy) — +0.15
- 3rd 🇺🇸 Katie Hensien (1999, Stifel U.S. Ski Team / Rowmark Ski Academy / University of Denver All-American, SHRED) — +0.29
- 4th 🇺🇸 A.J. Hurt (2000, Stifel U.S. Ski Team / Palisades Tahoe Ski Team, Head) — +0.50
- 5th 🇺🇸 Tatum Grosdidier (2004, Stifel U.S. Ski Team / Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) — +2.01
How Did Elisabeth Bocock Win Back-to-Back GS Titles?
At just 20 years old, Elisabeth Bocock delivered an aggressive and powerful performance to secure her second consecutive U.S. Alpine Nationals Giant Slalom title presented by Stifel.
She attacked the course with speed from the first run and backed it up with execution in the second as conditions became more demanding.
“It’s pretty special to do this back-to-back,” Bocock said. “I felt like I was skiing free today and just trusted my skiing.”
Bocock’s rise has been rapid. Last season, she scored World Cup points three times, highlighted by a career-best 14th in Åre, and continued that progression this year with three GS scoring results and her first World Cup slalom points. Her best finish came with a 12th place in Kronplatz.
Her skiing is aggressive and fast—traits that often challenge consistency but are common among athletes capable of reaching the podium. In Vail, that potential translated into a championship performance.
What Made the Bocock Sisters’ 1–2 Finish So Special?
Just 0.15 seconds behind, Mary Bocock completed a remarkable 1–2 finish for the Bocock sisters at the U.S. Alpine Nationals presented by Stifel.
“Sharing the podium with Elisabeth is something I’ll remember forever,” Mary Bocock said. “We’ve pushed each other our whole lives, so to do it here is really special.”
Mary is coming off a breakthrough World Cup season, scoring points multiple times across disciplines, including five Super-G results and a downhill, while qualifying for her first World Cup Finals in Super-G. Her best finish came with an 11th place in Soldeu.
She also represented the Stifel U.S. Ski Team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, marking her first Olympic appearance.
Known for skiing with full commitment and speed, Mary brought that same intensity into the Giant Slalom, delivering one of her strongest technical results of the season.
How Did Katie Hensien Battle Back to the Podium?
In 3rd, Katie Hensien delivered one of the most meaningful performances of the race.
The Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete and University of Denver All-American returned to the podium after a season disrupted by injury. She opened the year with a strong 12th-place finish in Sölden before a leg injury halted her momentum.
“It’s been kind of a tough season battling back,” Hensien said. “But I’m happy to finish two runs—it’s been a minute.”
Despite the challenges, her resilience showed through.
“I’ll take that and enjoy what I’ve accomplished along the way… never giving up,” she added.
Referring to the Nationals, she said, “It’s always fun to come back and see the younger generation,” Hensien said. “There are really strong girls coming up.”
A member of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team and a 2025 World Cup Finals qualifier in giant slalom, Hensien continues to establish herself among the top U.S. technical skiers.
Why Does A.J. Hurt Remain a World Cup Threat?
Just off the podium, A.J. Hurt finished 4th, reinforcing her place among the most proven U.S. technical athletes.
A two-time Olympian (Beijing 2022, Cortina 2026), Hurt has stood on both Giant Slalom and Slalom World Cup podiums. For the third consecutive season, she qualified for the World Cup Finals in Giant Slalom, highlighting her consistency at the highest level.
A product of the Palisades Tahoe Ski Team, Hurt skis with the strength and confidence of an athlete capable of challenging for podiums in any race.
What Does Tatum Grosdidier’s Result Say About the Future?
Rounding out the top five, Tatum Grosdidier continued her steady progression within the Stifel U.S. Ski Team.
The 2004-born athlete narrowly missed the NorAm GS podium in Bromont and finished 7th overall in the NorAm GS standings, with the final two GS races in Aspen canceled due to warm weather.
Still early in her professional career, Grosdidier continues to build consistency while maintaining the speed that has defined her rise through the U.S. pipeline.
What Does This Mean for U.S. Women’s Alpine Skiing?
The U.S. Alpine Nationals presented by Stifel highlighted one clear takeaway: depth across every level of the U.S. women’s program.
From World Cup podium athletes like Hurt and Hensien to rising stars like Elisabeth Bocock and Grosdidier, the pipeline is not only producing talent—it is producing athletes capable of winning now.
At the top, the Bocock sisters’ 1–2 finish represents both the present and the future.
The next generation is no longer coming—they are already here.
About the Author: Peter Lange
