Ligety leads first run of Beaver Creek GS

Skiing rhythmically and capitalizing on his downhill and super G experience earlier this week, Ted Ligety leads the field by .56 in the first run of the Birds of Prey giant slalom. “It’s super, super fast up there and it’s easy to get bumped around up there,” Ligety says. “Yesterday helped a lot.”

Switzerland’s Didier Cuche is in second place while Aksel Lund Svindal, downhill and Super G victor here, was in third place, .69 behind Ligety and within striking distance for a possible triple win.

Bode Miller, who skied very straight in his hell bent fashion, slipped at one gate, but still finished fifth, .89 back of the leader.

Tim Jitloff, who scored his first World Cup points in the giant slalom in Soelden, was in 21st place. 2.01 back. “My goal was to ski as smooth as I could. Second run will be a lot cleaner,” Jitloff says.Skiing rhythmically and capitalizing on his downhill and super G experience earlier this week, Ted Ligety leads the field by .56 in the first run of the Birds of Prey giant slalom. “It’s super, super fast up there and it’s easy to get bumped around up there,” Ligety says. “Yesterday helped a lot.”

Switzerland’s Didier Cuche is in second place while Aksel Lund Svindal, downhill and Super G victor here, was in third place, .69 behind Ligety and within striking distance for a possible triple win.

Bode Miller, who skied very straight in his hell bent fashion, slipped at one gate, but still finished fifth, .89 back of the leader.

Tim Jitloff, who scored his first World Cup points in the giant slalom in Soelden, was in 21st place. 2.01 back. “My goal was to ski as smooth as I could. Second run will be a lot cleaner,” Jitloff says.