Chodounsky Scores Again in Night Slalom

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy (Dec. 22, 2015) – David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO), fresh off a career-best slalom result in Val d’Isere last weekend, kept the momentum flowing and once again popped into the top 10 in Tuesday’s evening slalom.

“I got a result and I’m happy!” Chodounsky said after finishing ninth on the bumpy course, which broke down due to warm temperatures. Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), Michael Ankeny (Deephaven, MN), Mark Engel (Truckee, CA), Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO), Tim Kelley (Starksboro, VT), did not qualify for the second run. Robby Kelley (Starksboro, VT) DNFed first run.

Ted Ligety during the first run of the men's slalom event of the FIS Ski World Cup in Madonna di Campiglio Tuesday. (Getty/AFP-Olivier Morin)

Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen won his second-straight Audi FIS Alpine World Cup slalom to remain atop the overall slalom standings. Austria’s Marcel Hirscher - who was almost hit by an aerial drone providing overhead television shots on the second run - was second, and moved into the overall World Cup lead. Marco Schwarz, also of Austria, was third.

Chodounsky, wearing bib 20, tackled the steep 59-gate first run, finishing 14th. He was well on his way to another solid result in the second run when one mistake knocked him off balance.

“The (final) pitch was pretty bumpy,” Chodounsky said. “The snow broke up again and it made it tough for me, running two runs starting in the back. I had to go through ruts both times. I just got off-balanced coming into the flats ... and it just killed my speed for the bottom.

“But I’m still happy,” he added. “I moved up still, into ninth. I’ll take that!”

Up next, the men’s speed team travels to Santa Caterina, Italy for downhill competition Dec. 27-29, while the tech team tackles another night slalom at Zagreb-Sljeme, Croatia, Jan. 6.

David Chodounsky skis to ninth in Madonna.

HIGHLIGHTS

• With his second-place finish, Austria’s Marcel Hirscher moved into the overall World Cup lead ahead of Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal.
• David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) scored his fourth career World Cup top-10 slalom finish.
• Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen won his second-straight World Cup slalom and leads the overall World Cup slalom standings.
• With Kristoffersen’s win today, Norway has had victories in eight of the 12 men’s World Cup races contested so far this season.
• This was Marco Schwarz's first World Cup podium and only his third World Cup finish.

QUOTES

David Chodounsky
I got a result and I’m happy!

The (final) pitch was pretty bumpy. The snow broke up again and it made it tough for me, running two runs starting in the back. I had to go through ruts both times. I just got off-balanced coming into the flats ... and it just killed my speed for the bottom.

RESULTS
Men’s slalom