Aussies pull through in tough World Cup

Mitch Gourley (left) on the podium following his 2nd place at St Moritz

A challenging start to the para-Alpine World Cup in St Moritz has not deterred the Australian team who bounced back to achieve more good results to round out the year.

It was a short turnaround after the team recorded great success in Kuhtai last week, and bouncing back in St Moritz was difficult across the board.

“The first race after Kuhtai wasn't great for the team, but that can happen sometimes,” Head Coach Christian Geiger said. 

“This sport is very hard to have success race after race with the unpredictability and variability of it.”

The Aussie athletes put the tough start behind them however and got back on the podium.

After sitting the first two giant slalom races out due to illness, Melissa Perrine returned for the two slalom races, winning gold and bronze along with her guide Andy Bor.

A couple of costly errors in the first giant slalom race saw Mitch Gourley finish eighth, but he turned this round for a silver medal finish in the second race. In the Slalom races, Gourley was third and fourth.

“I actually didn't bring about any changes after the first race, it was the athletes themselves,” Geiger said. 

“Mitch and Mel are experienced and able to bounce back when things don't go to plan. When Mel and Mitch ski their best, they are very hard to beat.”

St Moritz also saw Victoria Pendergast find form in the women’s sitting slalom division.

Pendergast was fifth in both slalom races , putting together her first World Cup races after struggling with her health and losing confidence as a result. Geiger knew that Pendergast had the ability to race like she trains and was pleased to see her put together two World Cup races.

“Tori hasn't skied as well as she can during the World Cups and she was just reminded that she has been training really well and was competitive in Pitztal in single runs.   

“The last two events Tori finished were in her weakest discipline. With a bit of confidence I have no doubt she will surprise a few people in her stronger events.”

The team now has five days off before meeting again in Zell am See, Austria, on the 28th of December to have a training block until the next World Cups in Innerkrems in mid January.