WHITEFISH, Mont. – All season, Jonna Mendes went into the starting gate telling herself she would ski fast. This time she followed through – not just once, but twice.

Mendes won the women’s giant slalom Tuesday at the U.S. Alpine nationals, posting the two fastest runs for a surprising victory in an event that isn’t her specialty.

“I had no expectations,” said Mendes, who concentrates on downhill and super-G. “I haven’t run a lot of GS, and I haven’t run against any of the girls here. It’s hard to know what’s good.”

Mendes had a combined time of 2 minutes, 22.05 seconds over a course that was icy in the morning and softened to spring conditions at the bottom by the second run.

“I felt if I got a top-five (finish), I was going to be really stoked. Wow, here I am winning,” said Mendes, of Heavenly, Calif.

Kirsten Clark of Raymond, Maine, was second in 2:23.80, while Julia Mancuso was third in 2:24.25. Sarah Schleper had the second-fastest opening time, behind Mendes, but lost a ski about eight gates above the finish of her second run.

Clark takes home one medal of each color. She won the downhill and placed third in super-G.

Kristina Koznick, who left the U.S. Ski Team last summer to compete independently this season, placed fourth in 2:24.36.