Jitloff edges out Ford for fifth GS title

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine – It was the fifth U.S. national giant slalom title for Tim Jitloff, and his third straight, but he was genuinely worried about first run leader Tommy Ford.

“Nationals is Tommy Ford’s stomping ground,” Jitloff said.

Ford’s lead was a scant two hundredths after the first run. Jitloff, at age 30 and no stranger to how the game is played, figured if he could just put a little pressure on Ford with a strong second run, he had a chance and it was a race he wanted.

Ford has his share (eight in multiple disciplines) of national crowns as well, including two GS titles in between Jit’s strings. He pulled no punches, but took at least one risk too many. One small bobble on the final face may well have spelled the difference, a 0.42-second margin once all the dust settled.

“I’m happy for Tommy,” said Jitloff. “He’s had a rough go of it the last couple years. But I thought maybe it’s good if he’s leading after the first run, put a little pressure on him maybe I can claw my way back. It was fun. We’re all really tired.”

“We saw you singing Johnny Cash between runs,” a journalist said.

“A good indicator that I’m a little tired now,” Jitloff acknowledged. “This is how it is, we’re all happy to be here because this is really fun for us – a chance to hang out with each other and decompress from the season. And to see some of the kids coming up. We saw the young buck win the super G, Duffy.”

Team Geronimo’s Nick Cohee rounded out the podium in third, and Great Britain’s Jack Gower was the top junior in eighth.

“It’s a good way to go … last couple of races on World Cup were not what I wanted. … So if I can win the final race of the season and win a national title, then that’s always awesome and something to be proud of,” added Jitloff. “And,” he said, unable to resist the plug, “it’s the first national title in history for Stoeckli skis, so they’ll be pumped.”

Photo courtesy of Cory Ransom

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