Crawford trumped a strong international field to win the first of two FIS Australia New Zealand Cup giant slalom races at the Winter Games yesterday.
She backed up her double victory in super G at Coronet Peak at the weekend by winning gold ahead of American Katie Hensien and Riikka Honkanen, of Finland.
Following Sunday’s race postponement due to poor visibility and soft snow conditions, yesterday dawned clear and sunny with cold overnight temperatures, bringing the hard and fast snow conditions needed for ski racing.
The field comprised competitors from 14 nations and featured a mix of experienced world cup racers and some exciting young talent, competing over two runs on The Hurdle course.
Crawford was back on top form, skiing the fastest first run in the women’s field to give herself a 0.14sec lead over Hensien and fellow American Ava Sunshine.
"There were definitely a few rolls in there where it really swung and turned so you had to be prepared for that," Crawford said.
"It was a game of where you could go on the safer side versus where you could really send it."
Run two started after a course reset with the start order for the fastest 30 racers flipped.
Crawford, 30th out of the gate, charged through the course to finish 0.58sec overall ahead of Hensien with Honkanen 0.69sec back.
"It’s not an easy hill and you need to keep working and pushing and making speed and just having that mentality of putting it all out there," she said.
"I feel pretty good. It’s a good step for my confidence and definitely what we’ve been working on.
I know I can ski well, it’s just getting my head wrapped around the racing. I can be fast in training so it’s just transferring it over. The last two days have been a good step forward."
Piera Hudson was the top-placed New Zealand woman, finishing in eighth, 1.49sec off the lead.
She was awarded the Janey Blair trophy for the fastest New Zealand woman in giant slalom.
Top women’s seed Alice Robinson, of Queenstown, recorded a DNF on run one.
American skier Isaiah Nelson won the men’s event yesterday.
Nelson (21) has been in impressive form throughout the ANC series technical events, picking up a win and a fourth in slalom a week ago.
He put together a strong first run at Coronet Peak to take the lead in the men’s field, 0.05sec ahead of Norwegian Timon Haugan with Ian Gut, of Liechtenstein, 0.13sec behind in third.
He backed up in the second run by sealing victory by 0.1sec.
"I was hoping for a fight, and it definitely was," Nelson said.
"The conditions were pretty bumpy on the top and a little spring-like on the bottom. It was a pretty deep groove.
"I skied smart at the top, I think. I didn’t push to my limit up there but coming off the pitch, I was looking for speed and I felt I did a decent job carrying it across the flats.
"I was happy to stay in the lead. It was a close race, so I’m feeling happy."
Haugan also maintained his form on run two to finish in second place, while Slovakian Andreas Zampa was able to improve on his fourth place in run one to finish third overall, 0.01sec behind Haugan.
Willis Feasey, winner of the ANC super G races, was the fastest of the Kiwi men, finishing in 16th, 2.88sec behind the leader.
Feasey was awarded the Pieter Small Smith trophy for the fastest New Zealander in giant slalom.
The Winter Games continue with the second set of giant slalom races today.
Staff Reporter
