Alpine skiers debut at Asian Winter Games

Amid a picture perfect backdrop Australia’s Liam Michael has finished seventh in the men’s Giant Slalom at the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games.

Conditions couldn’t have been better for the 44 starters from 18 nations and were in stark contrast to what the field experienced a day earlier when training was abandoned due to poor visibility and wind.

Not knowing what to expect, 17-year-old Michael chose to take a conservative approach on his first run.  

“My training run on the arena didn’t go so great through the middle section, the snow changed on me so I wasn’t expecting that,” Michael said. After my first run in the gates I built up a confidence to stand on it when you come over that knoll.  That really helped me try and go for it more. I went for it more and it turned out better.”

Michael’s first run of 1:11.27 seeded him ninth for run two and in his second run he stopped the clock in a time of 1:12:35.

“Really happy with seventh,” he said. I know the top (ranked) athlete, he’s a really good skier and he’s had some past good results and his points are low. There’s a few guys on World Cup or edging on World Cup so it’s good to have some experience with those guys.” 

Wearing the green and gold was a momentous occasion for Michael who hails from Manly but lives in Park City, Utah.

"I've never worn an Australian suit before, it was awesome to pull on what the Olympians wear, I'm really proud and excited to be here,” he said.

Meanwhile, in her Asian Winter Games debut, Australia’s Zanna Farrell has achieved a fantastic result, finishing fifth in the ladies’ giant slalom.

After a difficult first run of 1:19.33 which had her sitting in eighth, the 18-year-old produced a stellar final run of 1:13.43, to take her total time to 2:32.76 and elevate her to fifth place.

Although the first run didn’t go to plan, Farrell was ecstatic with her ability to turn her performance around and produce the final result.

“The first run was okay, not my best as it was pretty bumpy and lots of ice,” Farrell said. I picked up a bad line and wasn’t where I wanted to be. The second run was much better, I was in a better mind set. Conditions were pretty much the same and I was starting a similar number, but my mental state was different.
I was more calm, more positive towards the skiing and knowing the course… I was much more centred,” she said.

Japan secured a 1-2-3 in the event, with Emi Hasegawa winning in a total time of 2:21:58.

Asa Ando and Mio Arai were second and third in times of 2:23.45 and 2:25.49 respectively, however the AWG have a rule that prevents a country from having a clean sweep in an event. 
Therefore, South Korea’s Kang Young-seo who finished fourth in 2:32:35 received the bronze medal.

For Farrell, having recently recovered from a lower back and hip injury, she was stoked to have put down such a strong performance in the giant slalom, which is not her pet event.

“The last couple of days we didn’t really get any training, so to have a good run on the back of a huge break, it was really amazing.”

Farrell will take today’s experience in her stride as she turns her attention to the slalom event.

“I am better at slalom, and I enjoy it a little bit more,” she said. I am hoping to get the first run one that I’m really happy with, not one that I need to bring a comeback from. So I’m hoping to perform the first run first thing in the morning and nail it from the start.”

Farrell will compete in the ladies’ slalom event on Saturday 25 February.

Michael will be back in action at Sapporo Teine on Friday 24 February in the men’s Slalom event. 

Article courtesy of olympics.com.au

Pic: Liam Michael