WINTER PARK, Colo.—Colby Granstrom broke up Tommy Ford’s monopoly at U.S. championships Sunday, winning the slalom with a fast final run in snowy conditions.
Julia Mancuso couldn’t add to her career mark of 13 U.S. titles, skiing off the course in whiteout conditions during the first run of the women’s race. She won the super-G and giant slalom earlier this week.
Granstrom, of Lake Stevens, Wash., cruised through a technical course in a combined time of 1 minute, 42.67 seconds, beating Ford by 1.33 seconds. Seppi Stiegler took third as the snow began to taper off later in the afternoon.
“I wanted to throw down the best run I could. It was enough. I’m so happy,” the 20-year-old Granstrom said.
The day was still a success for Ford. He captured the crown in the combined, which meshes the times from the super-G that Ford won Saturday and the slalom.
Ford, of Bend, Ore., has won six national titles in the last two years.
“Unbelievable,” Ford said of his weekend. “To be consistent through all this (soft) snow, I’m happy with my skiing. Colby put it in a groove today and let it go. That was sweet.”
Mancuso just never settled into a groove in her one and only run, hitting a bump that bounced her off the course.
“It was just really tough. Went out. Oh well,” said Mancuso, who’s from Squaw Valley, Calif. “Still a really good week.”
