Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times
Aspen local Bridger Gile bounced back from a tough start at the U.S. Alpine Championships by finding his way onto the podium Tuesday in the men’s giant slalom at Aspen Highlands.
The 21-year-old, who is a member of the U.S. B team, led after the first run on a day when conditions were again less than ideal. Warm, spring weather again wreaked havoc, this time with gusty, snow-drying winds added into the mix.
“The course was pretty long … I’d say I’m pretty beat from the season in general. At least it’s warm weather, so that’s nice and makes it easier to be outside,” Gile said. “But, it makes the snow softer … they did their best to keep it as hard as they could, but it’s pretty hot out and I think that makes the course more tiring, as well.”
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.