Jitloff fends off Ford in giant slalom

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Tim Jitloff withstood a charge by junior competitor Tommy Ford to win the national giant slalom title Tuesday at the U.S. Alpine Championships.

The championships conclude today with the women’s giant slalom.

Jitloff led after the first run down the sun-splashed Narrow Gauge trail at Sugarloaf, and then held off the 19-year-old Ford in the second run. Jitloff also finished third in the slalom and second in the combined at the championships.

Warner Nickerson, a Colby College of Waterville graduate with considerable experience racing at Sugarloaf, was third on the day.

Jitloff had the second-fastest time in the second run, but was uncertain until he saw the scoreboard whether he had been fast enough.

“I came into the finish and it was really quiet,” he said, adding that was “a bad feeling.” He wheeled around, sighting the scoreboard and saw that he had beat Ford by a 0.10 seconds. He gave out a yell and pumped his fist.

“I needed that,” Jitloff said. “I haven’t gotten a win in a long time and that feels really, really good.”

The win was his first in more than a year and his podiums over the last season could be counted on one hand, so the national championships may have helped him save a place on the U.S. Ski Team.

For Ford, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week, the result is frosting on an excellent season that has included the top U.S. finish at the World Junior Championships and recognition as Ski Racing Magazine’s Junior Skier of the Year during ceremonies Sunday.