Ligety success in Beaver Creek

6th December 2010, by Chris Gill

Beaver Creek

The FIS World Cup men’s action moved to Beaver Creek Colorado at the weekend, and there was delight for US racer Ted Ligety in the Giant Slalom – but not before stormy weather cancelled the downhill.

Howling winds greeted the athletes in Beaver Creek on Friday, forcing race officials to lower the start for the men’s downhill competition. But there was no let up in the windy conditions that whipped through the Birds of Prey course, so officials declared it cancelled at lunchtime.

More settled weather arrived for Sunday’s Giant Slalom, which saw the US ski team bounce back to top form. Ted Ligety led after the fist run, and was the last to ski in the GS. Ligety attacked the second run, crossing the finishing line having extended his first run lead to take a time of 2:37:67 seconds.

The title was Ligety’s first win on home snow. Kjetil Jansrud of Norway (silver medalist in Vancouver) was second, with Austria’s Marcel Hirscher taking third place. The Beaver Creek result was another boost for the US team, following news that Lyndsey Vonn had won the women’s giant slalom in Lake Louise.

The Audi Birds of Prey event is the only US stop on the Men’s World Cup circuit, a challenging course that is widely recognized as one of the top five race courses. Sunday’s event was also particularly memorable for one Swiss racer: Daniel Albrecht, who completed his first World Cup race since almost dying in a crash in Kitzbühel in 2009. He came 21st overall, but was delighted to have made the comeback and to be skiing a course that he had previously won before his accident.

• racing
• beaver creek

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