Tiniest margin gives Ligety massive prize

SKIING: Giant slalom specialist Ted Ligety has pocketed another victory – and this one comes with quite a Christmas present: a $78,000 prize.

The American won the Alpine Rockfest exhibition event at the Paganella resort yesterday, edging Italy’s Giovanni Borsotti out by the slimmest of margins, 0.01 seconds. Cyprien Richard of France finished third. The event featured five knockout rounds of short giant slalom runs, with the winner taking all of the prize money.

Ligety, who is aiming for his fourth World Cup giant slalom title this season, said: “It’s the best Christmas present I could give myself.”

Overall World Cup leader Aksel Lund Svindal was eliminated in the semi-finals, while former overall winner Bode Miller failed to make it past the second round.