The 2012 U.S. National Championships came to an exciting close today (April 1) in sunny Winter Park, Colo. as one happy Robby Kelley won the men’s giant slalom.

Today’s win was Kelley’s first national title and the victory capped a breakthrough season for the Starksboro, Vermont native. Kelley also clinched the giant slalom NorAm title last week.

Kelley, a first year U.S. Ski Team member on the C-Team, held a 0.68-second lead coming out of the morning first run.Temperatures hit the mid 60s, softening the afternoon second-run course on which Kelley showed deep talent, holding on for the win in a strong field. Kelley hauled in an overall time of 2:15.03 to win by 0.58 seconds.

“It was pretty good up top the whole way and then I got a little late coming around this corner,” said Kelley. “I didn’t know if I’d be able to hold on for the win but I skied well at the bottom, came out on top, it’s exciting.”

Kelley, one of the latest generation of the famous U.S. skiing Cochrans, was overcome with joy in the finish area.

“Once I saw the one I was so excited I couldn’t really control my emotions,” said Kelley. “I started fist pumping, just an awesome feeling, something you dream about.”

A pair of Norwegians joined Kelley on the podium. Espen Lysdahl, the recently crowned NCCA slalom champion who skis for the University of Denver, came in second followed by fellow Norwegian Leif Kristian Haugen rounding out the podium in third. Haugen also scored a second-place finish in this week’s championships in the slalom.

“We train here regularly so this is a home hill for a lot of the college skiers, we know the hill.” said Haugen. “[The course] held up pretty good, a lot better than I thought it was going to be, it was possible to throw down some really fast runs.”

The top junior in the men’s giant slalom was Robert Cone of the U.S. development team who is also from Vermont.

“It’s exciting to see my fellow vermonter, Robby Kelley, up there on the podium.” said Cone, who was on the podium for the juniors earlier this week in the men’s slalom as well. “I put my foot in the rut and ran with it the whole way down, similar to the slalom..the snow wasn’t perfect and ideal but it turned out to be a great day.”

Also on the podium for the juniors was U.S. Ski Team member Bryce Bennett in second and Christopher McKenna of Burke Mountain Ski Academy in third.

Today’s race capped 10 days of spring racing in Winter Park. The event started with the Nastar Championships followed by the U.S. National Championships. Sunny skies and warm temperatures graced the entire event as hundreds of ski racing fans got to hit the gates and see their idols race.

Image by Claire Abbe