Australia's Harry Laidlaw starts season with career-high ranking
Published Tue 25 Oct 2022
The Men's Giant Slalom kicked off the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season this weekend in Soelden, Austria. Harry Laidlaw proudly represented Australia in an event typically dominated by European and Scandinavian athletes.
The 26-year-old has spent the majority of his time training with his Austrian-based Global Racing team in the northern hemisphere in the run-up to the season opener.
“My domestic season went really well, I spent most of the southern season in Europe as my team Global Racing is based over here. We were a little nervous at the beginning with how little snow the glaciers had but in the end, we were super lucky with the conditions," Laidlaw said.
“This year I was lucky enough to get more support from my main sponsor Volkl with factory service which has been huge with getting the equipment called for the season.”
For those who wonder why Australian professional alpine skiers prefer to train in the northern hemisphere rather than the southern, Laidlaw compares it to how Australians love their NRL and AFL.
“Training and racing in Austria is a whole different type of energy, the best way to explain it would be like playing AFL or NRL in their major cities," he said "It's their main sport so there is more excitement and enthusiasm around alpine skiing.”
Laidlaw put down a clean first run in Soelden, finishing with a time of 1.03.21 to place 42nd in the World Cup opener, his second best FIS World Cup result. Marco Odermatt of Switzerland won the gold, ahead of Slovenia's Zan Kranjec in second and Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen in third.
Heading into a new season, Laidlaw is encouraged by his new world ranking of 31st which he achieved last season. Furthermore, the alpine skier has won three consecutive North American Cup victories, making him the first Australian Alpine skier to do so.
“Winning back-to-back Norams gives me a lot of confidence going into this season, I've figured out my race day mindset and the headspace I need to be in to do well.”
Looking at the rest of the World cup season ahead Laidlaw has set his sights on moving up the world rankings.
“My goal is to be a real competitor in the World Cup, to be ranked within the top 30 and build off that.”
See all FIS Alpine Soeldon World Cup results HERE
The next FIS World Cup event for the men will be held at Lech / Zuers Austria on the 12th & 13th of November. See the full calendar HERE
