ADELBODEN, Switzerland (Jan. 8, 2017) – David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, CO) was the best U.S. racer of the day, taking 12th place through tough conditions at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom in Adelboden. Michael Ankeny (Deephaven, MN) and Mark Engel (Truckee, CA) grabbed top-30 spots to score points.
The weather was inconsistent at Adelboden, with heavy fog rolling through for many of the racers. However, it didn’t seem to bother Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, who built a huge lead second run to take the win by 1.83 seconds. Manfred Moelgg of Italy was second, while Marcel Hirscher of Austria was third.
Chodousnky was eighth after first run, but had a tough second run with fog and ruts. "I’m actually a little bit disappointed with today, even though it’s my best result of the season," said Chodounsky. "I’ll take it, but I left a lot out there ... You gotta fight and earn everything on the World Cup. It’s not given to you at all."
Ankeny, who had scored his first World Cup points at Adelboden last season, was excited about making the points, taking 23rd place. But he's looking for more this season, and knows he can put two runs down to achieve a better result. "I’m super excited to get back in the points," said Ankeny. "I had kind of a tough December with some injuries to my hip, but came back after the new year super refreshed and ready to go. I think seeing that my teammates Mark Engel and AJ Ginnis pop it in there, really helped me – because we’re all really close in training and so it makes it really feasible."
Earlier this week, Engel skied from bib 45 to third place in the first run of the Zagreb night slalom. While he crashed second run, Engel got a glimpse of the top and is continuing to attack. "I’m pretty stoked to make it down two runs in a row, but I’m still unsatisfied," said Engel, who finished 24th and scored his first World Cup points. "I think that I can do better than that. I wasn’t holding back to finish, but this hill is really steep and I’m a lot more comfortable on flats. It was just a little intimidating, but I was trying to go full gas."
The men’s team now heads to Wengen for an alpine combined, downhill and slalom this week.
HIGHLIGHTS
- David Chodounsky was 12th - his best result of the season so for and his third top-20 slalom finish this season.
- Michael Ankeny finished 23rd to earn his first points of the season. He grabbed his career-first World Cup points here last season.
- Mark Engel scored his career-first World Cup points, taking 24th.
- AJ Ginnis (Vouliagmeni, Greece) and Robby Kelley (Starksboro, VT) did not qualify for second run. Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO) did not finish first run.
- Road to Aspen: With a third-place finish, Marcel Hirscher continues to lead in the overall hunt. While Hirscher led the slalom standings coming into today, Henrik Kristoffersen’s win matched Hirscher’s total points score. The two stand tied.
QUOTES
David Chodounsky
First run was really good, I’m happy with that. Second run – not as happy with. I’m actually a little bit disappointed with today, even though it’s my best result of the season. I’ll take it, but I left a lot out there. I’m skiing well. We have a lot of slaloms in a row now, which is great. I'll keep the momentum going next week in Wengen. It’s tough. It’s a grind. You gotta fight and earn everything on the World Cup. It’s not given to you at all. I’m happy. I skied really well first run. All in all, a good day. I’ll take it.
Michael Ankeny
I’m super excited to get back in the points. I had kind of a tough December with some injuries to my hip, but came back after the new year super refreshed and ready to go. I think seeing that my teammates Mark Engel and AJ Ginnis pop it in there, really helped me – because we’re all really close in training and so it makes it really feasible. [Adelboden] is really suiting to me. The top part is not the hardest, so you can really push it there. And then it’s really steep, so if you attack, you can have a fast run. The environment here is pretty awesome. The fans are all going crazy, especially for the Swiss.
Mark Engel
I’m pretty stoked to make it down two runs in a row, but I’m still unsatisfied. I think that I can do better than that. I wasn’t holding back to finish, but this hill is really steep and I’m a lot more comfortable on flats. It was just a little intimidating, but I was trying to go full gas.
RESULTS
Men’s slalom
