Robinson wins European giant slalom
QUEENSTOWN ski racer Alice Robinson is continuing some strong form and has just made a trip to the top of the dais.
Robinson (17) won a European Cup giant slalom event in Germany, the first New Zealand athlete to do so since Claudia Riegler in 2001 in slalom.
The 17yearold now holds the world No 1 ranking for under18 women’s giant slalom and is second in the under21 age group.
Robinson is preparing to compete at the FIS World Championships in Sweden this coming week and then the
World Junior Championships
(under21) in Pozza di
Fassa, Italy from February 1827.
Robinson had a delayed start to her season in order to sit her NCEA level two exams.
She qualified 25th for run two of the World Cup GS in Maribor.
Only the top 30 racers qualify for a second run and Robinson is the first New Zealander to do so in giant slalom. Piera Hudson achieved a top 30 qualifying time in a World Cup slalom at Killington, United States in November 2018.
‘‘She’s had great speed in training all season, but it’s taken some time to transfer that to races,’’ coach Tim Cafe said.
‘‘I knew I had the capability if it all came together,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘Second run I had a few close calls so thought I had blown it but was happy to find out I had won.’’
‘‘I’m really happy. It’s all because of the support of my family and friends.’’