Close competition in giant slalom

The women's giant slalom featured another tight tussle on Tuesday, with only one second separating the top nine competitors.

The all-European podium was topped by Veronika Zuzulova (27), of Slovakia, ranked 49th in the world and a favourite to win the 47-competitor event.

Her 50sec first run put her in silver position, but the first round belonged to Norwegian Chloe Margrethe Fausa (19), whose 49.92sec run was the only sub-50sec time of the day.

However, softer snow conditions in the afternoon saw Fausa relegated to seventh place in a combined time of 1min 41.81sec.

Zuzulova romped home with combined time of 1min 41.25sec, pipping Switzerland's Annie Winquist (18) on 1min 41.35sec.

Celina Hangl (21) made it a double for Switzerland, claiming the bronze with the fastest second run of 50.59sec.

New Zealand junior champion Taylor Rapley, of Queenstown, fell in the second run, leaving another local, Harriet Miller-Brown, to top the New Zealand competitors in 26th.

Men's standing slalom athlete Cameron Rahles-Rabula led the charge for what was a strong day for the Australians in the adaptive events, taking the gold in a combined time of 1min 31.58sec, despite having not competed for the last couple of seasons.

Close on his heels were Americans Ralph Green and bronze medallist Patrick Parnell.

New Zealand's gold-medal winning Paralympian Adam Hall withdrew to prepare for the slalom event.

Australian Paralympian Melissa Perrine clocked the fastest time in the women's visually impaired category, edging defending title holder, Kelly Gallagher, of Great Britain.

Korea's Jong Seouk Park denied the Australians a trifecta, winning the men's sitting category ahead of US Paralympic development team member Stephen Lawler, and Mark Soyer, of Australia.

 

Add a Comment