BEAVER CREEK — Ted Ligety won a World Cup giant slalom here today, becoming the first American to win at Beaver Creek since Bode Miller won a downhill in 2006.
Ligety, who won the World Cup season GS title last year but did not medal at the Vancouver Olympics, had the fastest time in the first run and third-fastest in the second run. His winning margin over the two runs was .82, a fairly substantial margin.
Three other Americans finished in the top 30. Tim Jitlof was 23rd, Werner Nickerson 24th and Miller 27th.
Ligety’s performance capped a great day for the U.S. Ski Team. Earlier in the day, Vail’s Lindsey Vonn won a World Cup super-G at Lake Louise, Alberta, and teammate Julia Mancuso was third in that race. It was the first time since December 2006 that Americans won both men’s and women’s races on the same day.
The World Cup now travels to Europe for the rest of the season.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
