By USSA

OLYMPIC VALLEY — It was locals day at Squaw Valley as Tim Jitloff (Reno) boosted his U.S. title count to four with a victory in the men’s giant slalom to close a sun soaked Day 1 of competition at the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships.

Tim Jitloff

Jitloff is the 2008 and 2009 U.S. giant slalom champion and also owns the 2009 combined crown.

Defending champ Robby Kelley (Starksboro, Vt.) landed second and Seppi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, Wyo.) in third on Thursday.

Top junior honors went to Kieffer Christianson (Anchorage), who finished fourth in the race.

World Cup and World Champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) did not race, but will be in Squaw Valley for the Championships.

The race was staged a day later than planned as more than a foot of snow blanketed the Olympic race hill on Wednesday.