Queenstown’s Alice Robinson claimed her 13th career World Cup podium after racing to bronze in the FIS Giant Slalom World Cup in Slovenia yesterday.
Wanaka freeskier Luca Harrington followed Robinson’s form to pick up his maiden FIS Freeski Big Air World Cup title in Austria, becoming the first New Zealand freeskier to win the Big Air World Cup.
Robinson, 23, was rapt to start the 2025 season with a bang, but knew she had more to give.
"I am really happy with another podium. It’s great," Robinson said.
"I knew I could have done better on the first run — I skied solid but it was just too conservative.
"For my second run, I just didn’t want to think as much and just wanted to attack and go for it.
"I think I found a good balance between pushing and being smart with the tactics."
Robinson’s coach Tim Cafe set the course for the first run on the incredibly firm and icy piste.
Coaches will always set a course that plays to their athlete’s strengths, and Robinson made the most of the opportunity, putting down a solid first run which had her sitting in fourth position.
Robinson knew she had to give it everything for her second run and powered out of the start gate, pushing hard on the opening turns and skiing the course from top to bottom with her trademark aggressive and dynamic style, taking the leader’s seat with just three athletes to go.
The firm snow conditions upset some, but it was just what Robinson was looking for and she made the most of the favourable conditions.
"It was amazing [the slope], the surface was unbelievable, a perfect mixture of icy but not too slick and it was super nice. It was great," Robinson said.
Thea Louise Stjernesund, of Norway, who was sitting in third, was unable to claim the leader’s seat off Robinson, guaranteeing a podium spot with just two skiers left to take on the course.
Beijing Olympic champion Sara Hector, of Sweden, won hold by an astounding 1.42sec after putting down two incredible runs.
Eighteen-year-old Lara Colturi, of Albania, finished in second place, with Robinson in third just ten hundredths of a second between them.
Robinson has finished on the podium three out of four times in the 2025 giant slalom season and is sitting in second-equal in the giant slalom World Cup standings.
She will now switch skis and gears and will be focused on the upcoming speed races in St Anton, Switzerland next weekend.
