Reno’s Jitloff returns to racing with 20th place

By USSA

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — Tommy Ford (Bend, Ore.) picked up his third Audi FIS Ski World Cup top-15 giant slalom result of the season, finishing 14th on Sunday.

Austria’s Marcel Hirscher skied to his 20th career World Cup giant slalom victory by a massive 1.50 seconds ahead of Matts Olsson of Sweden in second and 1.95 seconds in front of Stefan Luitz of Germany in third. With his victory, Hirscher pulled farther ahead of Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen, who finished seventh Sunday, in the overall World Cup standings.

Tim Jitloff (Reno), who is returning to form following a back injury last month, posted his first top 20 of the season, finishing 20th on the demanding and dark Kandahar course.

“Considering I couldn’t walk two weeks ago, I’m pretty damn happy about today,” Jitloff said. “It was a solid effort, and the skiing was not bad at all – the second run I just had an unlucky mistake there that cost me probably a top 15.”

Ford started 26th and finished 10th in the first run. In the second run, he made a slight mistake, but kept charging to the finish.

Sunday’s race was the final World Cup giant slalom before next month’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.