Ski Racing - November 21, 2011

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First Person: “It gives me confidence to ski with the guys you see on TV and at the Olympics.”

Will Gregorak Hometown: Longmont, Colo.

Team Years: 4

Club: Ski Club Vail

Equipment: Rossignol, Leki, Shred, Slytech

Sponsors: Thule, T2

Up-Date: Will Gregorak is one of the newer young faces on the team, entering his fourth season at age 21. While he certainly has been “fast-tracked,” he is attempting to make his mark as a four-event skier rather than focusing on one discipline. That’s typically a slower way into the international rankings, but a strong indication of what the coaches think of his potential. Last season included his first World Cup starts, and while he didn’t get a second run in any of them, he anchored Cup starts again this season by winning the NorAm GS crown in his spare time. Coaches say he was looking better in super G and slalom this summer, adding that he is “coming along nicely” as a four-event man.

First Person: “I definitely would have liked to earn a World Cup second run this season, but the experience was a huge boost. I know what it’s like to compete at that level and know that I need to put in a ton of work to be competitive.”

Tim Jitloff
Hometown: Reno, Nev.
Team Years: 7
Club: Park City Ski Team
School: University of Nevada, Reno
Equipment: Fischer, Leki, Uvex, Ortema, Booster Strap

Sponsors: Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Susan G Komen Foundation

Catch Up: Tim “Jit” Jitloff spent so much time in Germany last summer, he had to apply for part-time residency. He discovered last season that skiing super G helped his giant slalom skiing, and also learned he can score readily in combined. Jit flat-out loves skiing and ski racing. He’s been a member of the national team since 2005

(when he was named to the development squad) has started 44 Europa Cup races and 54 in the big leagues. He’s started five World Championship races. Last season was among his best in terms of results, as he brought in two top-five Europa Cup results (one in GS and one in slalom), his best career World Championship finish (14th), and registered his second-best career World Cup result with an eighth in super combined at Bansko, Bulgaria. That last result is perhaps a harbinger of fresh life in his racing career.

First Person: “Last year I had a couple of good results in combined and got myself in the top 25. In GS I had some good results. I want more, though. We did a lot of dramatic changes in my approach to giant slalom, and I’m in the position where I don’t think I’ve ever skied this well. I’m excited to know I just have to prove it and show it. I’m going to be charging hard; I don’t want just a top 30, I want top 15, that shouldn’t be a question for me. And super G, I found, helps my GS tremendously. I’m getting rid of slalom at this point.”

Wiley Maple
Hometown: Aspen, Colo.
Team Years: 2
Club: Aspen Valley Ski Club
Equipment: Atomic, Shred

Sponsors: Axeco, Strafe

Catch Up: Wiley Maple’s first World Cup experience came in Wengen, at the famed Lauberhorn. The race weekend is Switzerland’s premier event, held at perhaps its most scenic venue. It is the lon-gest and oldest race on the World Cup schedule and it draws a large crowd of flag-waving Swiss race fans. “I didn’t know people were that psyched about skiing,” Maple says. “The crowds were insane.” Never one to shy away from the riskier line, Maple claimed the NorAm downhill title last season with two wins, a fourth and a DNF in four races held. His win at his hometown of Aspen after his World Cup experience was by nearly a full second. Although Maple’s point profile says he is first and foremost a downhiller, he has a well-rounded quiver of skills competing across the board of the alpine disciplines.