April 6, 2021
Denver University’s Tobias Kogler, first, University of Utah’s Joachim Bakken Lien, second, and U.S. Ski Team athlete Bridger Gile, third. Photo: Steven Kornreich/U.S. Ski Team.
On day two of the U.S. Alpine Championships at Aspen Highlands, it was an international giant slalom podium, with Denver University’s Tobias Kogler (Austria) in first, University of Utah’s Joachim Bakken Lien (Norway) in second, and U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Bridger Gile in third.
It was another early morning for the athletes, staff, and race organizers, and the conditions were challenging, according to a U.S. Ski Team report. Though the temperatures were cooler than on Monday, the wind caused a problem and took the moisture out of the snow, causing issues for the salt to do its job and firm up the surface.
Ritchie earns inaugural national title in Aspen
Steven Kornreich - U.S. Ski Team
Under the sunshine at Aspen Highlands, U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete and 2021 World Junior Slalom Champion Ben Ritchie emerged victorious at the slalom kickoff of the U.S. Alpine Championships. Middlebury College’s Erik Arvidsson was second, and Garret Driller rounded out the podium in third.
Due to the forecasted warm weather, organizers made the decision to move the program up, with an early 7:30 a.m. first run start. The decision proved to be a good move, as the sun burned through the clouds at the end of the second run, roasting the surface. The course crew did a great job with the conditions considering the temperatures, and the surface was surprisingly solid and skiable.