Kitzbuehel, Austria – Nolan Kasper, of Warren, Vt., tied for 14th in slalom Sunday tied with Brad Spence of Canada to lead three Americans into the Kitzbuehel top 30 as Italian Christian Deville captured his first Audi FIS Alpine World Cup win.

“It was a fight with the snow and the weather, but this hill is always difficult. It was fun to watch and it was fun to be a part of,” said Kasper, who added, “The first run didn’t feel all that good, but I stayed in a decent position and was able to come back and put together a decent second run. I’m still and up and coming guy, so there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Kasper’s teammate Jimmy Cochran, of Keene, N.H., was 19th while Lake Stevens, Wash.’s Colby Granstrom finished 24th for the first World Cup points of his career.

“This race is a classic and it feels amazing to score my first World Cup points at such an incredible place,” said Granstrom. “It was my first second run in a World Cup so the nerves were going for sure and the Kitzbuehel atmosphere just adds to that. Now I just have to keep skiing fast and the points should continue to follow. I can’t wait to go to Schladming next. It feels like your in the Super Bowl – it’s a special experience to race there.”

Kitzbuehel features the only traditional combined on the World Cup tour, which matches Saturday’s downhill results with both runs of slalom. Ted Ligety, of Park City, Utah, finished fifth in the combined behind winner Ivica Kostelic of Croatia. Kostelic was also third in slalom to overtake Austrian Marcel Hirscher for the overall World Cup by 30 points.

Hirscher straddled a gate in the second run and was disqualified. It was also revealed that Hirscher straddled a gate during his win in Zagreb, Croatia earlier this month, but it was decided to let the victory stand due to the late discovery, sparking an angry reaction by Kostelic.

Spence, of Calgary, Alberta, hailed his biggest fan as the inspiration for a 14^th-place finish tied with Kasper at a two-run combined time of 1:42.13 in the slalom. Spence made eight-year-old Gage Ferguson’s dream of becoming his sponsor come true last weekend when the Canadian slalom ace wore a helmet sticker bearing the boy’s name during a World Cup race in Wengen, Switzerland in front of his young fan. The unique sponsorship was only for one race but Spence had a message for his eight-year-old buddy – who was watching the race on TV back in Calgary – as he crossed the line at the end of his second run.

“When I came through the finish and the camera was there I said ‘hi’ to him. I hope he can see it on TV,” Spence said.

“I’m still amazed at the amount of positive feedback I’m getting,” Spence added. “About half of the athletes in inspection came up to me today and said how cool it was that Gage sponsored me in Wengen. It’s not just me he is inspiring. It’s not just me who is proud of him.”

The men’s World Cup tour now moves to Schladming, Austria for the annual night slalom on Tuesday, where Austrian ski officials are asking for calm following Hirscher’s disputed slalom victory, hoping to prevent Austrians and several thousand anticipated Croatian fans from clashing with one another.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Audi FIS Alpine World Cup
72nd Hahnenkamm Weekend – Kitzbuehel, Austria – Jan. 22, 2012

Men’s Slalom

Men’s Combined