Aussie Alpine prospects put in good show at Thredbo

A number of Australia’s brightest young alpine skiing talent has hit the slopes at Thredbo in the first leg of the Australian New Zealand Cup over the past week.

In what were fields filled with plenty of international talent, PyeongChang hopeful Harry Laidlaw was Australia’s best performer in the men’s Giant Slalom competitions while the likes of Madison Hoffman, Katie Parker and Rebecca Brown all went well in the women’s events.

Laidlaw finished 18th and 20th in the two Giant Slalom competitions while Sochi 2014 Olympian Dominic Demschar claimed 34th and 30th. New Zealand’s Adam Barwood and Austria’s Daniel Meier both secured a race victory each.

In the men’s Slalom 17-year-old Warwick Crawford led the way in both events for Australia claiming 31st  and 34th. Germany national Slalom Champion Linus Strasser finished both races with the gold medal.  

Hoffman claimed 12th and 9th, Lily Tomkinson 13th (race 1), Katie Parker 16th (race 1) and Rebecca Brown 18th and 14th led the way for Australia in the two Giant Slalom races. Sara Hector of Sweden was too good in both races as she claimed strong victories to start her season.

Hoffman finished 7th (race 2), Parker 11th and 16th and Brown 13th and 18th while 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games Ski Cross silver medallist claimed a 12th placed finish in the first race. Hector again claimed a win while her countryman Estelle Alphand won the final race.

A number of the skiers will now head across to New Zealand to compete in the second leg of the Australian New Zealand Cup at Coronet Peak. 

Article courtesy olympics.org.au