McGrath Wins Slalom, Looks to World Cup

Felix McGrath of Shelburne, Vt., edged Italy’s Richard Pramotton and Bob Ormsby of Tahoe City, Calif., today in an International Ski Federation slalom race, staving off the challenge of several World Cup stars.

McGrath, the top U.S. hope for a medal in the Alpine World Championships in Vail, Colo., next February, clocked a winning aggregate time of 1 minute, 26.18 seconds in this north Italian Dolomite resort north of Trento.

Pramotton placed second in 1:26.74 and Ormsby third in 1:27.03.

A third American, Tiger Shaw of Stowe, Vt., took fifth place in 1:27.15. He was the fastest through the 57 gates of the first run but dropped four places after a disappointing second heat.

McGrath had the second-fastest time in both heats down the Agnello course. It was his second victory in this race in three years.

Today’s event was considered a warm-up for the third World Cup slalom of the season scheduled in Kranjska Gora, Yugoslavia, on Saturday.

Shaw was the only American finisher in last Sunday’s World Cup race in Madonna di Campiglio. McGrath dropped out in the first heat.